Portrait Of Viscount Stafford,18th Century; After Anthony Van Dyke (1599-1641)

An exquisite and impressive large scale three quarter length portrait of the martyr William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford (1614-1680). Painted in a grand style later known as the Van Dyke style, the artist excelled at portraying psychological depth and animation. The face, hand and attire are superb quality. The composition itself is restrained and does not include the grandiose classical architecture and military symbolism – instead concentrating on a sensitive portrayal and likeness of this aristocratic gentleman. The work is after Anthony Van Dyke’s portrait in the collection of the Marquis of Bute. William Howard was a supporter of the Royalist cause before being implicated in the Popish Plot and executed for treason. He is regarded as a Roman Catholic martyr. He was fifth son of Thomas, earl of Arundel and Surrey and his wife Lady Alathea Talbot. William grew up in an Anglican household but was undoubtedly exposed to Roman Catholic influences as almost all of the Howard family remained loyal to the Catholic faith even when they conformed outwardly to the Established Church. His grandfather, Philip Howard, 20th Earl of Arundel had been imprisoned by Elizabeth I in the Tower of London for being a Catholic and had died there. He was made a knight of the Bath at the coronation of Charles I and married Mary, the daughter of the Hon. Edward Stafford. Howard and his wife were created Baron and Baroness Stafford. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Stafford and his family left England in 1641 moving to Antwerp - but was allowed to return to England with his wife later, however his estates were sequestered and compounded for recusancy and royalism only for them to be restored upon the Restoration of Charles II in 1660. Stafford's principal character flaw seems to have been his quarrelsome nature. Over the years he quarrelled with many of his Howard relations, including Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk, the head of the family, which was to prove unfortunate for him in 1680 when several of his Howard cousins sat as his judges to try him for treason during in Titus Oates's later discredited "Popish Plot" – and was such later executed at Tower Hill in 1680. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929. This is a marvellous show piece in terms of quality and scale and is very impressive. Held in a superb quality and condition period frame. Van Dyck was born in Antwerp and his first independent works date from when he was about 17. Van Dyck was the most important Flemish painter of the 17th century after Rubens. He was an extremely successful portraitist and painter of religious and mythological pictures in Antwerp and Italy. He is now best remembered for his portraits of courtly figures and his uncanny ability to portray the heart and soul of his sitters and his authoritative and flattering representations. He set a new standard for English portraiture to which members of the court were keen to aspire. Measurements: Height 128cm, Width 119cm framed (Height 50.5”, Width 46.75” framed)