This exquisite work formed part of the family collection of the Gage Baronets at their magnificent Tudor manor Hengrave Hall, Suffolk (see photo). This portrait hung in the manor along with other important family portraits by Van Dyke, Peter Lely, and Godfrey Kneller until they were dispersed in an eight-day sale on site in 1897 containing 1,914 lots, thus dispersing a collection that was compiled over 350 years.
The young sitter in this exquisite large-scale portrait is Thomas Gage. Born circa 1684, he was the first son of Sir William Gage, 2nd Baronet (c. 1651–1727) and Mary Charlotte (nee Bond). Thomas was painted circa 1709, perhaps in celebration of his marriage, or simply, when other family members were sitting to Kneller as there were at least ten. The portrait is characteristic of Kneller’s oeuvre in the last two decades of his life, when he assumed a more classical, and angular, style. Immediately noticeable is the strong azure blue of the coat, this type of bold colour was employed in this late style. It is not hard to understand why Kneller was at the forefront of his profession, a fact confirmed upon when King George I confirmed his position as Principal Painter in Ordinary awarding him a baronetcy, a unique honour for a painter. It is a striking image of the type of portrait that was in vogue during the early 1700’s favoured by the aristocratic class.
As a young and promising gentleman, and heir to his family’s estate, Thomas married Delariviere D’ews (c.1688-1746). The couple had three sons: Sir Thomas Gage 3rd Baronet (1712-1741), Sir William Gage 4th Baronet (1712-1767), and Edward Gage (d.1741) who was killed in the Austrian service in the 1741 campaign. Thomas, sadly, died young at only 32 years of age, in 1716 and Delariviere died in 1746. An inscription on her tomb accounts of her good character and integrity and “for thirty years, a pious widow”. Thomas and Delariviere are buried beside each other in the church at Hengrave Hall,
... as are many members of the family – this church holds some of the finest examples of monuments in the county. On their monument is a Latin inscription which translates to: “Here lies Thomas Gage, Esquire, Father William Gage, Baronet, and mother Charlotte Bond (only daughter of Thomas Bond, Baronet). Married Delariviere D’ews (daughter of Simonds D’ews, 3rd Baronet), his untimely death has left his wife abandoned at 32 years of age of which this heavy loss occurred 1 March 1716. Rest in Peace.”
The history of the Gage family can be traced back to the first Sir John Gage (fl. 1420-1475) when the Gages lived at Firle Place, East Sussex. His son, William of Firle (c. 1456-1496), was the father of Sir John Gage (1479-1556), vice-chamberlain to Henry VIII. Sir John became chancellor of the duchy of Lancaster, constable of the Tower and comptroller of the household, and later served as lord chamberlain to Queen Mary. He was succeeded by his son Edward, K.B., whose son Thomas was father to Sir John Gage (1577-1633), who was created a baronet in 1622.
Hengrave Hall is located near Bury St. Edmunds in Suffolk, England. It’s occupants, the Kitson and Gage families 1525-1887 were both Roman Catholic recusants. Thomas Kitson, a London merchant and member of the Mercers Company, completed it in 1538 using the stone from the old abbeys in the neighbourhood when they were pulled down. The house is one of the last examples of a house built around an enclosed courtyard with a great hall. The chapel contains 21 lights of Flemish glass commissioned by Kitson and installed in 1538. This is the only collection of pre-reformation glass that has remained in situ in a domestic chapel anywhere in England. Also, in the Banquet Hall is a window with the coat of arms of George Washington (one of Sir Thomas Kitson''s daughters married into the Washington family). The many has hosted many important visitors such as Elizabeth I who stayed at Hengrave twice and a chamber is named
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Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear of new stockAntique Number: SA607023
Dateline of this antique is 18th Century
Height is 144cm (56.7inches)
Width is 120cm (47.2inches)
Depth is 8cm (3.1inches)
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