Charles Talbot, Duke & 12th Earl of Shrewsbury, K.G. (1660-1718)
after Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1690
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
762 x 635 mm (30 x 25 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Lacock, Wiltshire
NT 996308
Caption
This picture is inscribed with an erroneous identification, as ‘John Talbot, brother to Talbot of Rudge Warwickshire.’ The sitter can, however, be identified as the 12th Earl and 1st Duke of Shrewsbury. This portrait is after the prime version at Boughton. Shrewsbury was regarded the embodiment of the courtly aristocrat, but unsuited to bureaucratic employment, and was considered something of a hypochondriac. He was also the first godchild of Charles II following the Restoration. In 1680 it was reported by the Dowager Countess of Sunderland that, at the age of twenty, the Earl had a ‘blemish on one eye, that ‘tis offensive to look upon it’, which was removed. Although his eyesight was saved, he wore an eyepatch, but this does not appear in known portraits. The dense modelling and shadow on the face, as well as the terse description of pattern on the coat would suggest that this is not an autograph painting.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Charles Talbot, Duke & 12th Earl of Shrewsbury, K.G. (1660-1718), after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt. (Lübeck 1646/9 - London 1723), c.1690. Bust-length, facing left, drape worn over floral patterned jacket, with slashed sleeves, and a lace cravat. Shown without the Order of the Garter.
Provenance
Given by Matilda Theresa Talbot (formerly Gilchrist-Clark) (1871 – 1958), who gave the Abbey, the village of Lacock and the rest of the estate to the National Trust in 1944, along with 96 of the family portraits and other pictures, in 1948
Credit line
Lacock Abbey, The Talbot Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Wrongly inscribed front, bottom right: John Talbot / Brother to / Talbot of Rudge / Warwickshire
Makers and roles
after Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist