William Lord Russell

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646-1723, was a German born English portrait painter. He was a pupil of Bol and Rembrandt, he was born in Leiden, travelled to Rome, Venice, Hamburg and later to London where he became painter in ordinary to Charles II. He painted a large number of portraits maintaining a studio with many apprentice painters and pupils who assisted him with the demand for his services as a portrait painter. This painting of Lord Russell 1639-1683, was discovered in Surrey adjacent to the County of the seat of Lord Russell, the picture which had clearly remained in the immediate area from it's earliest production was in it's original state and had been re-lined probably in the late 18th or early 19th Century, it required a full conservation by our restorers and was again relined after having removed the previous loose and somewhat detached earlier re-lining. It is in what we believe the 17th Century original frame. The history of William Lord Russell is fairly extensive and it would be an injustice to his memory to attempt a biography, if I may suggest the foremost account is in the Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th Edition 1911, there are later editions. The size including the frame is approx. 37"x33"