Sir Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1651-1694)
Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1669 - 1680
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1220 x 990 mm (48 x 39 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
NT 932302
Caption
This portrait is a version after the original (an oval half-length, of c.1684) in the Government Art Collection. The sitter was the second son of the 1st Lord Delamer (1622-1684), and was of a similarly independent mind. He was outspoken in his views on arbitrary power, Papism and the corruption of judges. Determined to prevent a Papist King, in 1682 he entertained the Duke of Monmouth, Charles II’s illegitimate son, at Dunham Massey. His overt support for the champion of the Protestant cause brought the family’s loyalty to the King into question, and in 1683 Henry was imprisoned on suspicion of involvement in the Rye House plot to kill King Charles II. He was released, but reimprisoned twice. Eventually his trial was held in Westminster Hall, presided over by the notorious Judge Jeffreys whom he had already publicly scorned as a ‘Jack-pudding’. Booth conducted his own defence, and his acquittal brought public rejoicing.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1651-1694) by Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646/9 - London 1723). 1693. Three-quarter-length, of a young man, turned to the right, gazing at the spectator, wearing armour with elaborate lace jabot, baton in his right hand, his left resting on his helmet; landscape background with distant horizon on right and stormy sky. Henry Booth was implicated in the Rye House plot to kill Charles II in 1683. Framed
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust with the house, estate and all the contents of Dunham Massey by Roger Grey, 10th Earl of Stamford (1896 - 1976)
Marks and inscriptions
(labelled)
Makers and roles
Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist