|
Date: |
|
Description: | Oil on canvas. Henry Pelham is seated beside his secretary John Roberts, who is taking dictation. The portrait by John Shackleton is based on Anthony van Dyck’s double portrait of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford beside one of his Principal Secretaries, Sir Philip Mainwaring (1639-40; collection of Earl Fitzwilliam).
Parts of writing on the letter in the left hand of Pelham can be read, including ‘London 1752’ at the top right and the signature ‘Merepoix’, which indicates that the letter is from French diplomat Charles Pierre Gaston Francois de Levis Mirepoix (1699-1758).
Shackleton also painted Pelham in the same pose but without his secretary (c.1752; National Portrait Gallery, London; another version sold through Christie’s, London, on 14 January 1944, Lot 149).
This double portrait was engraved by Irish mezzotint engraver Richard Houston (1721/2-1775). | Subjects: | wig paper male portrait desk quill chancellor's robe secretary armchair 18th century costume Henry Pelham | John Roberts ink pot/ink stand man coat prime minister | Temporal: | 1752 | Source: | Government Art Collection | Creator: | John Shackleton | Identifier: | http://www.gac.culture.gov.uk/work.aspx?... | Go to resource |
|
|