Miles Barton Art and Interiors has dated this Georgian Portrait Oil Painting to the 18th Century.
Given this, Walpole became one of the first politicians to actively take an interest in his personal iconography. This was a time when political allegiances, and the visual representations of such, were as important as loyalty to the crown. As much as a war of words he realized the strength of portraiture in this battle.
Walpole’s preferred portrait painter was Charles Jervas, who, by no coincidence, was also painter in ordinary to the King. On his death in 1739 Walpole turned his favours to the Frenchman van Loo, who coincidentally also had royal patronage. By doing so he was keeping in favour with the monarch but also employing a very popular painter of the time to disseminate his image.
Walpole has himself depicted in the black and gold robes of the Chancellor and the garter ribbon and star, indicating his membership of the Order of the Bath. It is a portrait that is derived from a full-length original, painted in 1740, which formerly belonged to Walpole and is now in the State Hermitage Museum, Russia. This was one of the most widely circulated images of the prime minister particularly after it was printed in mezzotint in 1741 and proved the most popular with his political allies and followers.
Other versions of this painting exist, importantly an identical one hanging over the central fireplace in the Cabinet room of No.10 Downing Street.
Provenance: Philip Mould Ltd; An English Noble Collection
Oil on canvas held in a period giltwood frame.
Canvas: 75 x 63cm (29 ½ x 25 in)
Frame size: 90 x 79cm (35 ½ x 31 in)
Miles Barton Art and Interiors has dated this Georgian Portrait Oil Painting to the 18th Century.
17th to 19th century british and european pictures and works of art
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Portrait of Sir Robert Walpole (1676-1745), Britain’s First Prime Minsiter from the Studio of Jean Baptiste Van Loo (1684-1745) Circa 1740.
