John Parker, 1st Baron Boringdon (1734/5-1788), with his Gun, leaning on a Gate
Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1768 - 1770
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
914 x 688 mm (36 x 27 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 872102
Caption
The Parkers of Saltram were among Reynolds' closest and oldest friends. Born within half a mile of their estate, Reynolds knew the family from his early years as a portrait painter in Plymouth. Appearing frequently in the artist's Pocket Books - for the first time in 1762 and almost every year thereafter until 1787 - he painted thirteen pictures for the Parkers, socialised and corresponded with them regularly, and acted as their art advisor and dealer. This is a particularly rare example by Reynolds of a whole-length portrait painted on a small scale. John Parker, who relished country pursuits, is depicted on the Saltram estate, his relaxed, informal pose and the reduced format of the portrait evoking a sense of easy camaraderie between artist and sitter.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, John Parker, 1st Baron Boringdon (1734/5-1788), with his Gun,leaning on a Gate by Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), circa 1768. A full-length portrait of John Parker II, 1st Lord Boringdon, the son of John Parker of Saltram and Catherine, daughter of John, 1st Earl Poulett. Parker leans against a gate in a landscape, facing left, wearing a blue coat over a red waistcoat, with buff breeches and dark leather riding boots. His gun rests on the crook of his proper left arm, his right hand in his pocket. John Parker was MP for Bodmin 1761-2 and for Devon 1762-84.
Provenance
Accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death-duties from the executors of Edmund Robert Parker, 4th Earl of Morley (1877-1951) and transferred to the National Trust in 1957.
Credit line
Saltram, The Morley Collection (accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to The National Trust in 1957)
Makers and roles
Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), artist
References
Mannings 2000: David Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings. The Subject Pictures catalogued by Martin Postle, New Haven & London 2000, no. 1394, p. 365 (Text), fig 862, p. 371 (Plates)