Attributed to Robert Walker, English 1607-1658- Portrait of a gentleman identified as Henry Mainwaring (1587-1653), half-length, in black with a white collar and cuff; oil on canvas, bears inscription 'A Van Dyck fecit' (lower left), inscribed on a...

Attributed to Robert Walker,

English 1607-1658-

Portrait of a gentleman identified as Henry Mainwaring (1587-1653), half-length, in black with a white collar and cuff;
oil on canvas, bears inscription 'A Van Dyck fecit' (lower left), inscribed on a label attached to the reverse 'One of the Manwarings / of the Kirmincham Branch/ Supposed to be that / Manwaring who raised / a Regiment for King / Charles the First in his / troubles, and who sold / an Estate to defray / the expenses of it.', 76.4 x 63.6 cm., (unframed).

Provenance: Private Collection, Europe.; Anon. sale, Sotheby's, London, 28 April 2021, lot 332.
Note: Only known portrait of Henry Mainwaring who fought for Charles I in the English Civil War and was a personal friend of the King. He was knighted by Charles I at Woking on 20 March 1618 and later became a vice admiral. See G.E. Manwaring ed., 'The Life and Works of Sir Henry Mainwaring', Vol.54, Navy Records Society, UK, 1920 (https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924006202422&view=1up&seq=1&skin=2021).

Robert Walker was an important artistic figure in 17th-Century England, whose portraits of contemporary political figures act as compelling documents of the Civil War period and its central players. Indeed, he was the chief painter of the parliamentary party during the Commonwealth of England from 1649 to 1660, and in fact, our knowledge of Oliver Cromwell's appearance is principally based on his portraits, as well as those by Samuel Cooper and Peter Lely. Walker was heavily influenced by Anthony van Dyck and several of his portraits are today housed in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
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