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Portrait Of John Philip Packer (1655-1697) In A Blue Coat With Diamonds C.1686; By
john Closterman (1665-1711), Oil On Canvas Painting
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
See full description at: www.titanfineart.com
This work formed part of the collection of family pictures and heirlooms of the Packer family at their magnificent moated family manor, Groombridge Place, Kent, one of the finest houses in England. The portrait was part of a notorious collection known as the “Packer portraits” and they looked down from the drawing room walls at Groombridge for almost 325 years until they were sold in 1992. The portrait is one of the finest works by John Closterman who at his best achieved something beyond the powers of any of his contemporaries working in England, including Kneller.
The lavish large-scale portrait depicts John Packer of Groombridge Place in Kent. The sitter has been depicted in with one arm resting on a plinth and the other akimbo resting on his hip. It is a gentlemanly ''swagger portrait'' and the pose alludes self-assurance and the lavish costume, the full-bottomed expensive wig, and the huge uncut diamonds exude a sense of wealt...h and privilege.
The history of Groombridge and the Packer’s begins with another John though, John Packer (1572-1649), who was a prominent lawyer and businessman, and profitable offices were conferred on him. In 1618 he acquired land at Groombridge and built the moated family manor, Groombridge Place. When he died in 1649, he left the Groombridge to his eldest son George. However, George was accidentally shot and passed away and the estate went to his next oldest son, Philip Packer (1618-1686).
In 1652 Philip married heiress Isabella Berkeley of Spetchley (1631-1664), the daughter of Sir Robert Berkeley, one of the oldest families in England. He was an English barrister, Paymaster of the King''s Works, Fellow of the Royal Society, an architect, an astute businessman, courtier to Charles II, a founder of the Royal Society, and friend of John Evelyn and Sir Christopher Wren. The couple had two sons, one being John Packer (our sitter) and four daughters. After Isabella died Philip married Sarah Isgar (1626-1677), by whom he already had three children with: James and William (both died in the Battle of the Boyne Ireland) and Philip (who emigrated to USA). On Christmas Eve 1686, whilst reading a book in his Secret Garden at Groombridge, Philip died. In his will he bequeathed Groombridge to his son John, our sitter. It is most likely that the portrait was commissioned to mark this important event as was customary at the time.
John married Barbara Morgan (1652-1712), daughter of Colonel John Morgan of Warminster, Wiltshire, in 1673, and a few years later the couple had three children: Isabella (born c.1674), Philip (1676-c.1709), and Anne (c.1676-1726). John followed in the footsteps of his father and became Usher of the Receipt of Exchequer, and Keeper of the Star Chamber. He died in 1697 at the age of 42 and was buried in the church at Groombridge. Groombridge passed to his son, Philip.
John Closterman was born in Westphalia in 1660. He briefly worked in Paris under Franēois de Troy (1679–1752) before coming to England in around 1681. Soon after his arrival he was employed by the King’s Principal Painter, John Riley (1646-1691) as a drapery painter. After the latter’s death Closterman established an independent portrait practice and the demand for his work soared, and by the late 1690s he was one of the leading society portrait painters in Britain, alongside Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723) and Michael Dahl (1659–1743).
His work is found in most pubic collections in Britain and in many private collections – seen on the walls in many British country houses, in the possession of descendants of the original sitters.
The work is held in its original carved and gilded Lely panel frame.
Provenance: The sitter at Groombridge Place, Kent, and by descent;
Henry Stanford Mountain, by 1919 (who purchased Groombridge along with its contents and paintings), and by descent;
Sotheby’s sale London, 15-16 Sept, 1992
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
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Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA950697
Dateline of this antique is 17th Century
Height is 145cm (57.1inches)Width is 123cm (48.4inches)Depth is 5cm (2.0inches)
Antique SA950697 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
ANTIQUE SA950697
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
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