Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (1573-1624)
studio of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (Bruges 1561/2 - London 1636)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1600 - 1699
Materials
oil on canvas
Measurements
1080 x 972 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Dyrham, Gloucestershire
NT 453777
Caption
This portrait has been re-identified as a portrait of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, who was a patron of Shakespeare. It was formerly identified as a portrait of Ulrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, who was the brother of Anne of Denmark, and had been made a Knight of the Garter by James I of England and VI of Scotland in 1605. It is a three-quarter-length version of a full-length portrait at Woburn Abbey. Despite the presence of a painted label, or 'cartellino', on the Woburn portrait, identifying the sitter as Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland (1578–1632), both the Woburn and Dyrham pictures were re-identified as portraits of Ulrich in the mid-20th century. Both pictures have since been re-identified as portraits of the 3rd Earl of Southampton. The portrait at Dyrham may have been purchased by William I Blathwayt (?1649–1717) from his uncle Thomas Povey (1613/14–c.1705) in 1693.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (1573-1624), studio of Marcus Geeraerts the Younger (1561-1635) or a copy of a work by him. A three-quarter-length portrait of a man, turned slightly to the right, with a curtain draped at the top left, and a plumed helmet and baton on a table to the right. He wears an embroidered doublet over a red garmet, with a gorget and ruff, an earring, and the Order of the Garter on a ribbon around his neck. His gloved right hand rests on his hip, holding his other glove, and his ungloved left hand rests on the table near the baton and his sword. He was recognised by Dr A.L. Rowse as being 'The Fair Youth' in Shakespeare's sonnet.
Provenance
Possibly purchased by William I Blathwayt (?1649-1717) from Thomas Povey (1613/14-c.1705) in 1693; thence by descent; purchased by Colnaghi for the National Trust from the sale of paintings from Dyrham Park at Sotheby's, 29 February 1956, lot 108.
Credit line
Dyrham Park, The Blathwayt Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
studio of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (Bruges 1561/2 - London 1636), artist previously catalogued as manner of Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger (Bruges 1561/2 - London 1636), artist previously catalogued as by Federico Zuccaro (Sant’Angelo in Vado c.1541 – Ancona 1609) , artist previously catalogued as by Cornelius Johnson (London 1593 - Utrecht 1661), artist previously catalogued as by Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641), artist
References
Inventory and valuation of all the household furniture, linen, china, glass, books, pictures [...] the property of William Blathwayt Esqr. at his late residence Dyrham Park [...] March 1839. [March 1839]., ? in the Cedar Drawing Room Dyrham Park 1844 List of Valuable Pictures, Prints, &c at Dyrham House, Gloucestershire the Property of Geo: Wm. Blathwayt Esq. with nominal prices affixed to some for the purposes of Insurance only. [1844], ? in the Cedar Drawing Room Inventory [of] Household Furniture, China, Glass, Oil Paintings, Engravings, Books, Silver Plate [...] In the Mansion House at Dyrham Park Gloucestershire bequeathed as Heirlooms by the late Colonel George William Blathwayt who died May the 14th 1871, ? in the Cedar Drawing Room Dyrham Park 1937 An Inventory and Valuation of the contents of Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire, the property of the late R. W. Blathwayt, Esq., made for the purpose of Probate duty by, Puttick & Simpson [...] January 1st 1937, in the Old Drawing Room (formerly the Cedar Drawing Room) Catalogue of Old Master paintings the property of J. R. W. Blathwayt, Esq. [1956]., lot 108 Oliver Millar, Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger: A Sequel Through Inscriptions, The Burlington Magazine, vol.105, no.729, December 1963, pp.533-541, p.534