Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Grafton (1663-1690) as a Youth
studio of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1679 - 1680
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1245 x 991 mm (49 x 39 in)
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851748
Caption
Henry Fitzroy was the natural son of Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. He was married to Lady Isabella Bennet in 1672, when she was only five and he was eight, with a further ceremony in 1679 when Evelyn was concerned by the marriage of this “boy that had been rudely bred” to this “sweete child if ever there was any” (1 August 1672), the “sweetest and most beautiful child” (6 September 1679). He turned out, however, much better than Evelyn had feared, pursuing a military career with courage sometimes amounting to reckless daring, on land and at sea (he became Vice-Admiral of England on the death of Prince Rupert in 1682). He helped suppress Monmouth’s rebellion, but later, disillusioned with James II, joined with Churchill to throw in their lot with William III at Axminster. He was mortally wounded at the capture of Cork when serving under Churchill (by then Lord Marlborough).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Grafton (1663-1690) as a Youth, studio of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), circa 1679/80. A three-quarter-length portrait of a youth, turned to the right, head turned to the left, gazing at the spectator, wearing a dark grey suit of armour with gilt studs; delicate greyish-white lace cravat; very long dark brown curly wig; a baton held in his right hand, elbow resting on a table; helmet on left side with red plumes, cape or stole in rich red edged with gold braid and fringe draped on table. Stone column and opening to thundery sky beyond on the right. Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Grafton, KG (1663–1690). Natural son of Charles II by Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland; created Earl of Euston in 1672, Duke in 1675, and KG in 1680. He was married to Lady Isabella Bennet in 1672, when she was only five and he was eight, with a further ceremony in 1679 when Evelyn was concerned by the marriage of this “boy that had been rudely bred” to this “sweete child if ever there was any” (1 August 1672), the “sweetest and most beautiful child” (6 September 1679). He turned out, however, much better than Evelyn had feared, pursuing a military career with courage sometimes amounting to reckless daring, on land and at sea (he became Vice-Admiral of England on the death of Prince Rupert in 1682). He helped suppress Monmouth’s rebellion, but later, disillusioned with James II, joined with Churchill to throw in their lot with William III at Axminster. He was mortally wounded at the capture of Cork when serving under Churchill (by then Lord Marlborough). This portrait was presumably painted shortly before he was sent to learn his profession of the sea from Admiral Sir John Berry in 1680 (he still has no insignia of the Garter).
Provenance
Probably by descent from Isabella Hervey, maternal granddaughter of Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington, to Frederick, 4th Marquess of Bristol (1863–1951), after which accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and allocated 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
studio of Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), publisher studio of Willem Wissing (Amsterdam 1656 - Burghley House 1687), publisher
References
Ingamells, 2009: John Ingamells, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, London, 2009, p.106