Possibly Robert Liddell (previously called Sir Richard Myddelton, 3rd Bt)
Sir Ralph Cole, 2nd Baronet (c.1625 - 1704)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1685
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1471 x 1229 x 52 mm
Place of origin
Wales
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1171138
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Possibly Robert Liddell (previously called Sir Richard Myddelton, 3rd Bt) by Sir Ralph Cole, 2nd Bt (Brancepeth c.1625 – 1704), previously attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller as of Richard Myddelton 3rd Bt (1655 - 1716), circa 1685. A three-quarter-length portrait of a middle-aged man, standing, to right, in a wooded landscape. He is turned three-quarters to right, gazing at spectator, with a double chin, full-bottomed dark-brown wig, large white lace cravat, white shirt and wearing a brown coat and cuirass with a crimson cloak. He is leaning on a rock with his left elbow, his right hand on his hip. A landscape with trees and clouds can be seen in the background on the right. attributing it to Kneller, of whom there was a different portrayal in the family wing. This is most probably a portrait of the grandfather of Mary Liddell painted by his 1st cousin once removed (Another Mary Liddell was Sir Ralph Cole's mother). It is identical in pose, dress and setting to the only other surviving portraits identified as by the amateur painter of Brancepeth Castle, 'A Self Portrait' sold at Christie's in 1948 and a portrait of his father-in-law, Thomas Wyndham at Petworth Sussex.
Provenance
Painted by the probable sitter's first cousin once removed; by descent from Mary Liddell, Mrs. John Myddelton (d.1741). Previously amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust. Chattels from the estate of Lady Margaret Myddelton that were accepted in lieu in 2006.
Credit line
Chirk Castle, The Myddelton Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Ill-fitting modern label (? transferred from another picture) describing sitter as Sir Richard Myddelton, 3rd Bt., and attributing picture to Sir Godfrey Kneller.
Makers and roles
Sir Ralph Cole, 2nd Baronet (c.1625 - 1704), artist previously catalogued as manner of Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist