Sworders
Lot 40
Circle of Daniel Mytens (Dutch, c.1590-c.1647) Portrait of a gentleman, thought to be Henry De Vere, full-length standing, in a striped black and gold embroidered doublet in an interior oil on canvas 62 x 39cm Provenance: Christie's, London, 17 June 2015, lot 193.Henry de Vere, 18th Earl of Oxford (1593–1625)Henry was born on 24 February 1593 at Newington, Middlesex, the only son of Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, by his second wife, Elizabeth Trentham. He succeeded his father as earl on 24 June 1604.In June 1624 he went to the Low Countries as colonel of a volunteer regiment of foot that was raised for the service of the Elector Palatine. He was present in June at the unsuccessful assault on Ter-heiden, in connection with the operations to relieve Breda but soon afterwards died at The Hague of fever. He was buried in Westminster Abbey on 25 July 1625. He left no issue, and was succeeded by a second cousin, Robert de Vere.Colne Priory and the de Vere family Earl of OxfordColne Priory at Earls Colne, Essex was a Benedictine priory, initially a dependent cell of Abingdon Abbey, Berkshire (now in Oxfordshire). It was founded by Aubrey de Vere I and his wife Beatrice in or before 1111.The original manor house, a gift from William the Conqueror to his cousin, Aubrey de Vere, after the Battle of Hastings, was lived in for centuries by the de Veres, who became the Earls of Oxford. In 1583, the manor was sold by Edward de Vere (the portrait sitter’s father), the 17th Earl of Oxford, and one of the most famous of the de Vere clan, making way for the house that exists today.For 14 generations, the church was the family mausoleum of the Earls of Oxford and became full of their elaborate monuments. The Priory was the principal burial place of the earls of Oxford, with all but a few buried there to 1703.2015 this piece was sold in the Country house collections sale at the christie’s, by late Mrs. Barbara Overland, whose family has lived in Mont Pellier House for over 40 years. Condition ReportFramed:76 x 52.5cm The painting is executed in oil on a canvas support which has been lined. Mould has started to form on the reverse of the canvas. There are small lumps across the surface, likely to be caused by debris between the original and lining canvases. The paint layer has a network of age cracks, some of which are slightly raised, but stable overall. There are small, sensitively handled, touches of overpaint across the painting. Mainly in the face and carpet, they are well matched to the original. The varnish is clear, even and glossy.
