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ANTIQUE #SA607023

Portrait Of Thomas Gage (c.1684-1716) C.1709; Attributed To Godfrey Kneller (1646/9-1723)

Status: This item has been sold
Sold by: Titan Fine Art

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,...
Antique #SA607023, shown on this page, originates from the 18th century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was made:
←C18th
Famous inventions historic timeline graphic to help to give historical context to the date of this antique.
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
TITAN FINE ART PROFILE PHOTO WHICH LINKS TO DEALER PAGE
Titan Fine Art
Specialist dealer in portraits from the 17th to the 20th century. All stock is in excellent condition and can be hung & enjoyed immediately.
London
United Kingdom
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
HISTORIC TIMELINE OPTIONS
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