John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680)
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1600 - 1699
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1464 x 1244 mm
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 609030
Caption
Various versions of this picture exist, one of which is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The sitter was the son of Henry Wilmot, 1st Earl of Rochester (1612?-1658) and Anne St. John, his second wife. Educated at Wadham College, Oxford, he became an English poet and courtier. At the Restoration he associated himself with the more dissolute members of Charles II’s court, and more than once was dismissed from court in disgrace. A noted libertine and a writer of lampoons, he was also a poet of distinction and a patron of Dryden. The King wished him to marry Miss Malet, ‘the great beauty and fortune of the North’, but when she refused, Rochester carried her off as she was returning from dinner at Whitehall. Charles placed him in the Tower but within two years Rochester married the lady.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647-1680) after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), 17th century. A three-quarter-length portrait, almost facing. Wearing breast plate, jabot, long wig and full sleeves, his right hand on his hip, his left arm resting on a ledge.
Provenance
Attingham collection. 1847 Catalogue of Paintings p.22; 1861 Inventory p.228; 1913 Inventory p.80; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Credit line
Attingham Park, The Berwick Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On reverse of canvas: Rodd (crossed out), 139 68 & 62 28 (crossed out) Lord Berwick On stretcher (top): Nov. 21 On stretcher (left) : MM On stretcher (bottom): ATT/P/094 On stretcher (right): 15 On reverse of frame (top): illegible (chalk) N7 (in pencil) On reverse of frame (left): MM On reverse of frame (bottom): ATT/P/094 On reverse of frame (right): East 7 (?) On reverse of frame (right): 15
Makers and roles
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist