William III at the Battle of the Boyne

Location

Country: Netherlands
City: The Hague
Place: British Embassy

Jan Wyck helped to make equestrian portraits, which were already common in continental Europe, popular in the UK. He depicted several members of the nobility in easy control of a rearing horse. However, his most popular equestrian portrait depicted King William III. One example, showing William first landing at Torbay on 5 November 1688, is dated 1688 and is now in the National Maritime Museum. It has been said to demonstrate that Wyck ‘applauded the coming of his fellow-countryman’. A similar portrait, with a battle scene in the background, is at Ulster Museum in Belfast.

There are numerous versions of paintings of William at the Battle of the Boyne (fought on 1 July 1690), which are attributed to Jan Wyck. They range from detailed views of the battle, to portraits of the king, like this example. Some are undoubtedly by other artists. Amongst these works are at least eight portraits of same type as this work; showing William on a rearing horse, facing to the right, with a sword in his right hand and the battle ensuing around him. An example in the collection at Blenheim Palace is signed and dated 1692, confirming that Wyck is responsible for this type of portrait.

Jan Wyck, known as John Wyck in England, was born in Haarlem in about 1640, and was instructed by his father, Thomas Wyck (c.1616-1677), whom he accompanied to England. Wyck distinguished himself as a painter of battles, sieges, hunting scenes and processions. His larger scale work is considered inferior to his small pictures. Jan Wyck painted several views of Scotland and made designs for a book on hunting and hawking. He died at Mortlake in 1702. The Yale Center for British Art has a watercolour by Wyck showing a stag hunt (Paul Mellon collection).

People

William III (1650 - 1702)

Places

Subjects

horseback, topography, royal portrait, horse, smoke, river, hill, valley, man, 17th century costume, armour, gauntlet, helmet, riband, flag, banner (as Subject), King, sword, soldier, Battle of the Boyne

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Jan Wyck (1640 - 1702)

Title

William III at the Battle of the Boyne

Date

c.1690-1695

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 74.00 cm, width: 92.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Agnew's, January 1950

Inscription

Label on verso: King William III at Battle of the Boyne, 1690

Provenance

With Agnew’s Gallery, London; from whom purchased in January 1950

GAC number

1092