Portrait of a Gentleman C.1695; Circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723)

Oil on canvas.

Large c. 1695 portrait of a member of the Palmes family of Naburn Hall, York, and other branches at Lindley Hall, North Yorkshire; Ashwell, Rutland; and Carcraig in Ireland. It is a family unique in being able to trace an unbroken inheritance from son to son for 800 years (from the 12th century to 1974) with only one exception in the 18th century.

In this charming portrait the artist has illustrated their young sitter in a striking sapphire coat with large gold buttons, a white neckerchief and a rich voluminous wig. Stylistically, the work follows the English eighteenth century tradition of portrait painting, epitomised by the likes of Kneller and Dahl. This portrait is a good example of the elegant style that Kneller was known for; the influence of Kneller on the artist is instantly recognisable. Remarkable for its bold use of colour, the deep saturation of the blues and the richness of the drapery, the bright fleshtones and the subtle flush of colour through the cheeks. An inscription on verso states “Palmes, period about 1670”. Set within a fine carved 17th 18th century frame.

The Palmes family of Naburn Hall are an ancient English aristocratic family with a cadet branch at Lindley Hall, North Yorkshire, and an Irish line at Carcraig. Manfred Palmes held lands in Taunton Deane, Somerset in 1140 during the reign of King Stephen and William Palmes acquired the Lordship of Naburn in 1226 from Robert de Todeni (died 1088) who was an ancestor and a powerful Norman baron that was granted 80 estates in 11 counties. To settle the debts of George Palmes over 800 acres of the estate was sold in 1775-9. It passed through the Palmes family until the death of Commander George Bryan Palmes in 1974 where it then comprised of 1100 acres. The will of Brian Palmes of Naburn Hall (31 October 1519) shows that in addition to Naburn the family held nine other estates. The Palmes family were recorded as recusants or non-communicants from the 1570s onwards and the family remained Roman Catholics until the death of John Palmes in 1784 after years of pressure and fines. Edmund Burke described the family as "one of serious antiquity".

The Palmes family of Naburn are direct descendants of Catherine Boleyn who is generally believed to have been the daughter of Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn who was the second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Elizabeth I of England. The branch of the family seated at Lindsey Hall began with Guy Palmes who was Sergeant at Law for Henry VII and Henry VIII.

Measurements: Height 95cm, Width 84cm framed (Height 37.5”, Width 33” framed)

Provenance: By descent through the Palmes family to a branch now resident in Kent.

Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (1646-1723) was born in Germany, but trained in Amsterdam and studied in Italy before moving to England in 1676. Towards the end of the century, after the deaths of Peter Lely and John Riley, Kneller became the leading portrait painter in Britain and the court painter to English and British monarchs from Charles II to George I. He dominated English art for more than thirty years. His over 40 "Kit-cat portraits" and the ten "beauties" of the court of William III are most noteworthy.

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