Studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck 1599-1641

The sitter was the eldest son of Sir Jerome Weston of Skreens, Essex, a justice of the common pleas, and his wife Mary Cave.  After studying at the Middle Temple and travelling abroad, he became M.P. for Maldon and was knighted by James I.  In 1620 he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Brussels in connection with problems with the Palatinate, travelling on to the Prague in time to witness the Elector's defeat.  He was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer on his return.  As Lord High Treasurer under Charles I, he played a critical role following Buckingham's death, in keeping the King away from foreign adventures, thereby ensuring that he could manage financially without the necessity of recalling parliament. 

He was made Knight of the Garter and Governor of the Isle of Wight in 1633, and Earl of Portland in 1634.  He married twice: his first wife, Elizabeth Placheon, died in 1603 leaving a son and two daughters; his second wife, Frances Waldegrave died in 1645 leaving four sons and one daughter.  He accumulated great wealth but lived extravagantly at Mortlake Park, which was granted to him in 1627, and for which he commissioned from Le Sueur the equestrian statue of Charles I, now at Charing Cross.  This fine portrait is a studio version of a lost original of c.1635 of which versions are in the Clarendon Collection, at Gorhambury, and at Kingston Lacey.