Sir John Langham (1583/4-1671)
possibly Anglo-Dutch School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1660
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
(49 x 39 in) 1245 x 990 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
NT 932317
Caption
The sitter was the son of a poor yeoman farmer, who made his fortune as a Turkey merchant. In 1637 or 1639 he bought the fine estate of Cottesbrooke, near Guilsborough, which became the family seat. Langham was created a baronet by Charles II in 1660, after having been committed to the Tower as a Royalist, and has been painted in the robes of an Alderman of the City of London. His granddaughter, Mary Langham, married Henry Booth, 1st Earl of Warrington (1651-1694), who then owned Dunham Massey, where this portrait hangs. The portrait appears to be Dutch, or Anglo-Dutch – but not by Gerard Soest (c.1600-1680/81) as the traditional ascription of it indicated. It may have been painted in Holland in 1660, when he went there on a delegation to Charles II. It may be that the ships at sea on the right stand for that voyage, rather than betokening his overseas interests.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir John Langham (1583/4-1671), possibly Anglo-Dutch School, inscribed with name of sitter in yellow, bottom right: Sir John Langham / Kt. & Bart. / ob. 1671. ÆT.88, circa1660. A three-quarter-length portrait of a man, turned to the right, gazing at the spectator, at the right a view of the sea and ships, wearing the robes of an Alderman of the City of London. Sir John Langham of Cottesbrooke, Northamptonshire. Sir John Langham was the grandfather of Mary Langham, wife of the 1st Earl of Warrington.
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
possibly Anglo-Dutch School, artist