William Congreve (1670-1729)
Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1709 (after)
Materials
Oil on canvas (oval)
Measurements
902 x 711 mm (35 1/2 x 28 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851743
Summary
Oil painting on canvas (oval), William Congreve (1670-1729) by Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646/9 - London 1723), after 1709 (date of original). An oval 'Kit-Kat' half-length portrait of a man, turned to the right, gazing at the spectator over his right shoulder, right hand pointing to right, dressed in a brown coat; very long light greyish-brown hair; light sandy background, grey sky visible on right. The sitter was the poet and dramatist who was the author of "The Way of the World". Another version of this portrait, signed and dated 1709, is in the National Portrait Gallery.
Provenance
By descent to Rear Admiral Frederick William Fane Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol (1863-1951), on whose death valued for probate; accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to the National Trust in 1956
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Makers and roles
Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist