Thomas Killigrew (1612 - 1683)
William Sheppard (England c.1602 - Italy c.1660)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1650 (inscribed)
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
1232 x 997 mm (48 1/2 x 39 1/4 in)
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 453749
Caption
The Royalist playwright and theatre-owner Thomas Killigrew was painted by William Sheppard in 1650 in Venice, where he was living as the Resident of Charles II (1630–1685) during his exile from Britain. Sheppard introduced an oval portrait of King Charles I (1600–1649) into his portrait of Killigrew, demonstrating the sitter’s loyalty to the deposed King, who had been executed the previous year. Under the pile of Killigrew’s literary works on the table is a copy of 'Eikon Basilike' ('The Image of the King'), published shortly after Charles’ execution and thought to have been written by Charles himself. When Charles II returned to Britain in 1660, Killigrew also returned to London from the Low Countries. He established the King’s Men theatre company, and became one of the leading figures of Restoration theatre. Sheppard’s portrait of Killigrew was purchased by William I Blathwayt (?1649–1717) from his uncle Thomas Povey (1613/14–c.1705) in 1693.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Thomas Killigrew (1612 - 1683), by William Sheppard (England c.1602 - Italy c.1660), 1650. A three-quarter-length portrait of Killigrew, seated, to the right, turning his head towards the viewer. He rests his head on his left hand, and in his right he holds a folio, on the top leaf of which is inscribed: "KILLIGREW" [the TK in a monogram] / RESIDENT / For : CR : / in VENICE / 1650". He wears a white satin gown, with a fur hat, and a light blue cloak falling from his shoulder. The table is covered with a red and gold cloth and piled with books inscribed with the titles of Killigrew's works. A dog gazes up at Killigrew, with "THO KILL" inscribed on its collar. An oval portrait of Charles I hangs on the wall to the top right. Another version is in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 3795).
Provenance
Purchased by William I Blathwayt (?1649-1717) from Thomas Povey (1613/14 - c.1705) in 1693; thence by descent at Dyrham Park; Indigenous collection purchased by Ministry of Works in 1956 and given to Dyrham Park in 1961
Credit line
Dyrham Park, The Blathwayt Collection (acquired by the Ministry of Works via the National Land Fund in 1956, and transferred to the National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On the front leaf of the folio held by the sitter in his right hand: KILLIGREW [the TK in a monogram] / RESIDENT / For : CR : / in VENICE / 1650
Makers and roles
William Sheppard (England c.1602 - Italy c.1660), artist
References
Malcolm Rogers, '"Golden Houses for Shadows": Some Portraits of Thomas Killigrew and his Family', in David Howarth, ed., Art and Patronage in the Caroline Courts: Essays in honour of Sir Oliver Millar, Cambridge 1993, pp.220-242, pp.233-235