Portrait Painting of Charles Darqneuve by Michael Dahl, Circa 1700

This fine portrait by Michael Dahl depicts Charles Darqneuve (often recorded as Dartiquenave), a figure of immense charisma and mystery in the courtly circles of late Stuart and early Georgian England.

Presented in a half-length composition, the sitter wears a sumptuous brown velvet coat, the shimmering texture of which is a testament to Dahl’s mastery of light and fabric. A deep crimson mantle is draped elegantly over his shoulder, a classical device signifying status and lineage. Darqneuve is crowned by a voluminous, finely rendered periwig, which frames a face of quiet dignity and intelligence.

Charles Darqneuve has long been the subject of one of the most persistent traditions of the British Court—that he was the unacknowledged 'natural' son of King Charles II. While the 'Merry Monarch' officially recognized many of his children, Darqneuve remained a figure of the inner circle, possessing the social access and wealth befitting a royal descendant.

Beyond his rumored parentage, Darqneuve was a celebrated bon vivant and a central member of the Kit-Cat Club, the most influential political and literary society of the 18th century. His refined tastes and legendary love for fine dining earned him a place in the works of the era’s greatest wits:

Alexander Pope immortalized him in his Satires, famously referencing his love for 'Ham-pie'.

Jonathan Swift recorded frequent meetings with 'Darty', noting his presence at the heart of London’s intellectual elite.

Darqneuve served as the Paymaster of the Royal Works, a prestigious position that placed him in charge of the King’s building projects, further cementing his proximity to the Crown.

Michael Dahl was the principal rival to Sir Godfrey Kneller and a favorite of Prince George of Denmark and Queen Anne. His style is characterized by a softer, more tonal sensitivity than that of his contemporaries. In this work, the delicate rendering of the lace cravat and the atmospheric handling of the background demonstrate why Dahl was considered the premier portraitist for those who sought a more sophisticated, intimate portrayal than the formal studio works of the period.

Provenance:

The property of Major George Meyler Harding of the Woodmancote Estate, Lymington, Hampshire when sold by Christie's London, April 24, 1931, 'Catalogue of Pictures by Old Masters: The Property of Major G. M. Harding, and others', lot 43 (attributed to Kneller)

Stockholms Auktionsverk, November 1973, lot 375

The portrait comes with a letter of authenticity dated 1940 from Michael Nisser, the renowned authority on the artist Michael Dahl and author of the artist's catalogue raisonne, published in 1927.

Isherwood fine art