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Portrait Of Colonel Richard Lister (1628-1704) Wearing Armour And Holding A Baton C.1690; Studio Of Sir Godfrey Kneller Bt. (1646-1723), Oil On Canvas

Status: This item has been sold
Sold by: Titan Fine Art

This exquisite work formed part of the collection of the Gregory family, descendants of the sitter, at their immensely impressive home Harlaxton Manor, Grantham. Our portrait, and the contents of the manor, were sold in 1937 following the death of Thomas Sherwin Pearson-Gregory, the last of the family to reside at the manor.
 
The sitter is Colonel Richard Lister of Thorpe Arnold (1628-1704). Depicted standing in a romantic landscape wearing suit of armour, a full-bottomed wig, he is shown with such symbols of power and office - the baton of command is a symbol of military authority, for the sitter was Colonel of the Regiment of Foot in the Trained Bands of Leicestershire. The sumptuous flowing red sash fringed with gold and the ensuing battle in the background imbues the portrait with a sense of movement and drama. His heroic visage suitably reflects his wealth and status and the martial, almost imperial, image of the sitter is an interesting characterisation and was popular at the time. The portrait is datable to circa 1690 when the full bottomed wig with its loose curls was fashionable.
 
The Lyster family has origins of great antiquity in the Yorkshire and neighbouring counties as far back as 1308 when Richard Litster was a Burgess Newcastle-on-Tyne. From there several distinct lines emerged.
 
Colonel Richard was born on 4th July 1624 at Ambrosden, Oxon. He was the son of Sir Martin Lister (1602/3-1670) (whose uncle, Sir Matthew, was physician to Queen Anne of Denmark) and his first wife, Mary Wenman (buried 1630/1), and half-brother of Martin Lister (c.1638-1712) who was one of the most important doctors and virtuosi of his generation. He married Eleanor Meridith (born 1627) and the couple had at least five children: Richard (born 1657), Mary (1663-1664), Dorothy (1660-1710), Penelope (born 1651/2), William (born 1666), and Martin (1650-1665). He was Justice of the Peace several times between 1680 and 1690 and Deputy Lieutenant several times bet...
Antique #SA1008728, shown on this page, originates from the 17th century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
←C17th
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
TITAN FINE ART PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Titan Fine Art
Specialist dealer in portraits from the 17th to the 20th century. All stock is in excellent condition and can be hung & enjoyed immediately.
London
United Kingdom
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
HISTORIC TIMELINE OPTIONS