File talk:Anthony van Dyck - Five Eldest Children of Charles I - Google Art Project.jpg
WIKIPEDIA DISCUSSION
Recently attributed picture. Van Dyck -The Children of Charles I, auctioned by Christies London & offered for sale by The Estate of The Duke of Leeds for the first time on 20th of June 1930, Lot 44 measuring 64½ x 79.
It is difficult to determine which of the two pictures was painted for whom. However, there is significant provenance, evidence, pentimenti and techniques to suggest that this, the Leeds picture, may have been a primary work.
The Leeds picture: • Compares very favorably to the preparatory works (including the Princesses Elizabeth and Anne, three Dogs and Charles II), also the King’s miniature by Nickolas Dixon currently displayed at the Harley Museum and the 1683/4 mezzotint of the “King’s family at length” by Alexander Browne (NPG D11400).
• Remained in the Duke of Leeds extensive collection for more than 245 years. After its purchase held in a US private collection more than 85 years, never shown in public or published until now.
It is likely King Charles I commissioned one picture for Whitehall and Queen Henrietta Maria another for the newly renovated residence (1636) at Greenwich by reviewing the requests for payments issued by Van Dyck and Royal financial records. In 1638 Van Dyck requested the Queen to pay £1000 for back pension and an additional amount of £200 for an undescribed picture of significant size and value. Van Dyck requested the same £200 of King Charles I for his picture of The Five Eldest Children. Further, after viewing the completed work made for King Charles, the Queen may have suggested many of the alterations/improvements that can be seen while viewing both versions side by side (pretty faces, brighter clouds, kept hair, other details etc.).
It is also observed and noteworthy that Charles I’s cuff is single (1 layer of lace)in both the Leeds’ version and Browne’s mezzotint of the Kings’ picture. While the cuff in the second Van Dyck picture of the Five Eldest Children, currently in the Royal Collection, is a double (2 layers of lace).
The Pictures of the Five Eldest Children left the Royal Collection twice:
• Pictures and other items of value were removed from the Royal Households during the Commonwealth. One picture of The Five Children was transferred to Capt. William Geere by the Commissioners of the Late King’s Goods, May 14, 1650 valued at L120. On the 17th of May 1653 Geere transfered the picture to a merchant- Francis Trion. A picture of the five children was also seen in Emanuel DeCritz’s possession, son of the Kings late Sargent Painter, in 1652 valued at L80 and recorded by R. Symmons. Ambassador Alonso de Cárdenas was in England trying to purchase the King’s art collection until 1658. [It is unlikely that values would significantly drop on Van Dyck’s works which normally were at a premium.]
The Commonwealth ended with the death of Oliver Cromwell in 1658. In 1660 Charles II returned as King of England. Many of the valued items that were distributed by the Commissioners were required to be documented as returned to the Crown.
One picture was discovered to be in the possession of Trion by Geldorp the 12th of May 1660 and required to be returned. The return may have been one of the two pictures of the children documented by Col. Hawley in 1660, who recorded one picture as by Van Dyck and a second by Titian.
The version in the current Royal Collection Trust, the inscription is visibly painted on the left of canvas of the picture now in Windsor Castle. The second picture’s return was recorded in error as by Titian [Titian was a painter of great skill and merit however was also deceased 50 years prior to the childrens’ births and therefore could not have been the artist.]
•Neither Picture of the Five Eldest Childrn remained in the Royal Collection after King James II’s reign.
In 1684, Thomas Osborn’s bail was found and he was released from imprisonment. Osborne had previously been charged with treason, tried and convicted for conducting government business with the French (at the request of the King). King Charles II likely presented his son’s (Charles Fitz Charles) father in law with the Van Dyck painting of the Five Children as a gift. Osborne was later granted many titles including Duke of Leeds.
It is widely believed that King James II bestowed the remaining picture to his consort Catherine Sedly (later Duchess of Portmore).
In 1732 both pictures (The Leeds & The Royal Collection Trust) were in the same household collection when the Duchess Dowager-widow of the 3rd Duke of Leeds (Juliana Hale) married the 3rd Earl of Portmore. The Earl sold his picture which returned to the Royal Collection through King George while the Leeds picture was bequeathed to the widow’s stepson –Thomas Osborne, the 4th Duke of Leeds. {John BONING 11/17/18}
