Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
He was born in 1677, and, aged 27, married Elizabeth Fountaine of Worcester in 1704; which was probably when this portrait was commissioned along with one of his wife. The union produced one daughter who married a Captain William Price; they had one son.
Elizabeth was the sister of Sir Andrew Fountaine, Warden of the Mint, Vice Chamberlain to Queen Caroline and tutor to Prince William.
Edward is mentioned in 'Cobbett's Parliamentary History of England' as receiving an army debenture of £595 7 shillings and one penny. He was an army colonel and is listed as executor of Lt. Col. Thomas Clent, his father.
SIR GODFREY KNELLER (1646-1723) studied under Ferdinand Bol, and perhaps Rembrandt himself in the 1660s. He was in Rome and Venice between 1672 and 1675, settling in England in 1676 for life. He was soon employed at Court and became the most successful portraitist of the generation following Lely. He enjoyed the office of Principal Painter, at first jointly with John Riley (d.1691), from shortly after the accession of William and Mary in 1688 until his death. He was knighted in 1692 and became a baronet in 1715.
His work fully expresses the spirit of the English Baroque, and includes penetrating studies of many of the leading figures of Whig Society such as the famous Kit-Kat portraits now in the National Portrait Gallery (Beningborough Hall, Yorkshire), which include the likenesses of Sir John Vanbrugh, Charles 3rd Earl of Carlisle, and others.
SIZE: 34.5 x 29.75 inches including the frame.
PROVENANCE: Private Collection, London.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of Edward Clent, Esq, C.1704; Circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller.
