Portrait of an Old and a Younger Man (John Taylor and John Denham)
Maker
(Artists)
1610-1646
1610-1646
Title
Portrait of an Old and a Younger Man (John Taylor and John Denham)
Date of Production
1643
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 110.2 cm (canvas)
Width: 118.6 cm (canvas)
Width: 118.6 cm (canvas)
Accession Number
P.1947.LF.97
Mode of Acquisition
Arthur Hamilton Lee, bequest, 1947
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
On display
Keywords
Label Text
This rare double portrait was long thought to represent a father and son. However, the sitters have recently been identified as John Taylor (left) and John Denham (right), poets at the English court. The stone mask beneath Denham’s hand alludes to their association with the arts.
William Dobson, one of the first English portraitists, succeeded the Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck as painter to King Charles I in 1641. Dobson’s promising career was cut short by the disruption of the English Civil War (which started in 1642) and his early death.
William Dobson, one of the first English portraitists, succeeded the Flemish artist Anthony van Dyck as painter to King Charles I in 1641. Dobson’s promising career was cut short by the disruption of the English Civil War (which started in 1642) and his early death.
Provenance
Lee Bequest 1947
Exhibition History
William Dobson, Tate Britain, London, 29/10/2018-12/05/2019
The Gilbert, Courtauld and Wernher Collections, London & England, 07/01/1998-03/02/1998
The Gilbert, Courtauld and Wernher Collections, London & England, 07/01/1998-03/02/1998
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