Gerrit van Honthorst

By descent to the sitter's mother, Elizabeth of Bohemia, who bequeathed her portraits to William 1st Baron and Earl of Craven (1608-1697), Coombe Abbey;
Thence by family descent until sold, London, Phillips, 11th December 1984, lot 87 (bt. for £4,500, as of his brother Frederick Henry, Count Palatine)

J. R. Judson and R.E.O. Ekkart, Gerrit Von Honthorst, 1999, no. 369, p. 277, plate 262 (where listed as dated 1638)

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in very good condition, with no apparent damage or loss of paint. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals scattered minor old retouching to the background, as well as some more recent minor scattered retouching in the face and body. FRAME Held in a gilded plaster and wood frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com.
"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."

The sitter was the fifth son and eighth child of Frederick Elector Palatine and his wife Elizabeth. He was born in Prince Henry of Nassau's country house situated two hours out of The Hague, chosen to avoid the plague which was prevalent in the city at that time. Considered to be the handsomest of the Elector's many sons, he settled in Paris where he married Anne de Gonzague, a celebrated wit and beauty. She was the daughter of Charles Duke of Nevers and was eight years older than her husband. To the disapproval of his strongly Protestant family, Edward converted to Catholicism. Honthorst painted the Prince four times during his short life, the earliest dating from c.1629 shows him as an angel (Weston Park). The next is the present portrait of which there is a copy at Newbattle. Two later portraits are at the Louvre (c.1640) and a final portrait painted at the time of his move to Paris (1645 - sold in the Craven sale of 1968 and now untraced).