Gerrit van Honthorst

quarter length, wearing a striped doublet with garter sash and lace ruff

Anonymous sale, Robinson & Foster, 1948, as Van Dyck, Portrait of a Cavalier, bt. by Edward Farmer

STRUCTURE The canvas has been laid down or artists board. PAINT SURFACE There has been some rubbing to the surface of the paint in the face and costume of the sitter. There are some minor cracking to the paint in the lower left of the canvas and there is a characteristic craquelure particularly prominent in the lower section of the painting. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals minor retouching to the highlights in the sitters beard and moustache and a thick layer of discoloured varnish overall. FRAME Held in a painted wooden frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This portrait is one of two versions, the other is now in the National Portrait Gallery. Bought by Edward Farmer, a painter from Watford, in 1948, this painting is believed to have been damaged during the Second World War and subsequently reduced in size from  27 by 23 in. to 18 by 16 in. It would have originally depicted the King seated at a desk, holing a letter, as in the other portrait.

The present painting differs from the National Portrait Gallery version in the colouring of the sitters doublet and was thought by David Piper, when he saw it, to be the ad vivum version (see memorandum of 17th August, 1966 at NPG).

Honthorst came to England only between April and December 1628, at the instigation of the Duke of Buckingham. During this time he was chiefly employed executing the enormous commission for the painting of Charles I and Henrietta Maria as Apollo and Diana recieving the liberal Arts who are introduced by Buckingham (Royal Collection, Hampton Court). It must have been during this period at the English Court that he also executed this charming and intimate image of the King.