William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth (1672-1750) politician; Lord Privy Seal

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

Godfrey Kneller was born in Lübeck, Germany. He moved to Amsterdam in 1662 to study painting under Rembrandt and Ferdinand Bol. He later trained with Gianlorenzo Bernini and Carlo Maratta in Rome. He returned to Lübeck in 1675, before moving to Hamburg and then to London to study the works of van Dyck. In England he received commissions from prominent figures, including Charles II. Charles sent Kneller to France in 1684, to paint the portrait of Louis XIV. Kneller maintained his position at court after the accession of James II in 1685 and, when William and Mary came to the throne, he and portraitist John Riley became joint Principal Painters to the Crown. Following Riley’s death, Kneller alone retained the position. He was 77 when he died.

People

William, 1st Earl of Dartmouth Legge (1672 - 1750)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, man, 18th century costume, ceremonial costume, robe, wig, tassel, Chancellor's Purse, coat of arms, Earl, Lord Privy Seal

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646 - 1723)

Title

William Legge, 1st Earl of Dartmouth (1672-1750) politician; Lord Privy Seal

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 125.00 cm, width: 101.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Sabin Galleries, October 1977

Inscription

instl

Provenance

Dartmouth Collection, Sandwell Hall, Staffordshire.

GAC number

13462