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Description: | Acquisition: bequest by John King, 1739 Description: Whole length, standing facing viewer; grey wig; white bands; black gown, scarf, cassock and cinture; right arm resting on a red covered table to left, an open letter in his right hand; behind his elbow, a large Bible standing upright and open at title page. Open scroll at lower left contains same inscription as letter. His left hand out stretched in welcoming gesture; red armchair to right, crimson curtain background. Bequeathed to the University by sitter's Will dated 28 July 1736, together with a collection of thirteen subject pictures: 'IOH KING S.T.P. Archidiaconus Colcestrens & Hospity Suttoniani Lond. Magister in uberiorem Xystor. Bodleian. ornatum XIII Tabulas pictas & libras CC moriens legavit.' ('Registrum Benefactorum' for the year 1739, Library Records b.903, II, p.172, Bodleian Library) Transferred to the Examination Schools by Act of Convocation in 1929: 'That the Curators of the Bodleian Library be authorized to transfer from the Picture Gallery to the Examination Schools ten portraits [including] John King, by Knelller (Oxford University Gazette, 13 Nov 1929, p.144). The attribution to Kneller does not appear in draft lists of portraits to be transferred to the Examination Schools, compiled in June and July 1929, by the Acting Curator of the Schools, F.W. Green, and appears to be a transcription error. (In all transfer lists, the portrait of King follows that of Robert Nelson, by Kneller, OP92). On a visit to the Bodleian Gallery George Scharf, Keeper of the National Portrait Gallery, made a tentative attribution to Kneller's contemporary, Jonathan Richardson: 'Richardson?' 'Mellow & well painted rich dark shadows. Hands very good & dryly painted but powerful colours.' (G. Scharf, 'Trustees' Sketchbooks, 31July 1874, National Portrait Gallery Archive, London, Oxon II, p.16) External Link: Oxford Portraits website | Source: | Vads | Creator: | Artist: by unknown painter | Identifier: | http://www.vads.ac.uk/large.php?uid=896... | Go to resource |
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