Reputedly Anthony Leigh (d.1692) as Dominic in 'The Spanish Friar' by Dryden (1681)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1700
Materials
Oil on canvas with a wood frame
Measurements
742 mm (H)614 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Erddig, Wrexham
NT 1151352
Caption
Anthony Leigh was an actor who was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller in 1689, for Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset in the role of a Friar, now in the National Portrait Gallery. This leering portrait is thought to be the same man playing Father Dominic in the play ‘The Spanish Friar’ by John Dryden (1681).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Reputedly Anthony Leigh (d.1692) as Father Dominic in 'The Spanish Friar' by Dryden (1681), English School, circa 1700. A nearly half-length portrait of the actor as the friar, in John Dryden's play, his left hand pointing downwards, regards the viewer with a leer. Anthony Leigh is recorded as having been painted as this character of a Friar, by Sir Godfrey Kneller in 1689, for Charles Sackville, 6th Earl of Dorset, a full-length, the original of which is now in the National Portrait Gallery.
Provenance
Seen at Erddig in 1732 by Loveday; in undated early 19th century inventory of Erddig, as: "Fryer" and thence by descent;given by Philip Yorke III (1905 – 1978) along with the estate, house and contents to the National Trust in 1973
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: 'Tony Lee, in the character of the Spanish Fryer' (across the top, inlarge gold early 19th century script)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist
References
Loveday 1890: J. E. T. Loveday (ed.)John Loveday, Diary of a Tour in 1732, 1890 , "In a closet, is a good picture of a jocose Friar" Erddig 1800-29 Inventory of contents of Erddig, 1800-1829, "Fryer" Ingamells, 2009: John Ingamells, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, London, 2009, pp. 145-6