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Admiral James Berkeley, 1680-1736, 3rd Earl of Berkeley RMG BHC2552
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Admiral James Berkeley, 1680-1736, 3rd Earl of Berkeley
Although this painting bears Peter Monamy's signature below the buoy on the right it is unlikely that he was responsible for more than the marine background, since he is not otherwise known to have painted portraits. The figure of Berkeley is therefore assumed to be painted by an unidentified copyist, based on Kneller's 'kit-cat' half-length of about 1710, now in the National Portrait Gallery.
He is shown in three-quarter-length, to right, wearing a red velvet coat laced with gold and a brown full-bottomed wig. He also wears the Order of the Garter to which he was appointed in 1718 and carries a baton in his right hand.
Berkeley distinguished himself at the Battle of Malaga, 1704, while commanding the 'Boyne', 80 guns. In 1719, he was appointed Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Navy and Fleets and this gave him the right to fly the Lord High Admiral's flag, seen on his flagship on the right, although he was not the Lord High Admiral (a royal office held in commission after the death of Queen Anne's husband, Prince George of Denmark, in 1708). The portrait has been idealized, in the sense that the sitter looks too young for the date, although this may derive from the comparatively youthful original on which it is based.
Monamy, a self-taught artist, was influenced by van de Velde the Younger, and may have worked in his studio. The painting is signed ' P. Monamy pinx.' and another similar copy, also signed by him, is recorded. It is possible that, for whatever reason, they were made for Berkeley (a Whig) at the time of his appointment in 1719, or for officers serving under him. Monamy, whose naval clientele tended to be those of Whig persuasion, would have been the obvious choice to do the marine part and may have organised the work, signing it as 'master' in that capacity as much for being of the better known co-executant. This version was presented to Greenwich Hospital by Lady Hardy, wife of its Governor, Admiral Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, in 1838.
Admiral James Berkeley, 1680-1736, 3rd Earl of Berkeley
Godfrey Kneller, born Gottfried Kniller, was indeed a prominent German-born English portrait painter of the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born on 8 August 1646 in Lübeck, Germany, and later anglicised his name to Godfrey Kneller after settling in England. Kneller's work consisted mainly of portraits of British royalty, aristocrats and prominent figures of his time. He gained considerable recognition and became the leading portrait painter in England during the reigns of William III and Queen Anne. His notable works include portraits of King William III, Queen Anne and many members of the British aristocracy and intellectual elite. Kneller's style was influenced by the Dutch and Flemish schools of painting and he was known for his skilful depiction of his subjects with a sense of grandeur and elegance. Throughout his career, Kneller received many commissions and honours, including being appointed Principal Painter to the Crown by King William III in 1688. He was also a founder member of the Kit-Cat Club, a prominent 18th century London club for Whig politicians and intellectuals. Godfrey Kneller died in London on 19 October 1723, leaving a legacy of influential portrait painting in late Baroque England. His works are still celebrated for their depiction of the political and cultural elite of his time.
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