Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
(1593-1641), StatesmanSitter associated with 109 portraits
A powerful statesman, Strafford initially supported Parliament but was won over by Charles I. As President of the Council of the North (1628), and Lord-Deputy of Ireland (1632), he established a reputation for vigorous and efficient administration. As chief adviser to the King, 1639-41, he urged strong measures to control Parliament and obtain funds for a war against the Scots. Seen as a threat to Parliament, a bill of attainder was passed against him and the King reluctantly agreed to his execution. It was a political and moral blunder for which Charles never forgave himself.
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1656 (circa 1636)
NPG D16302
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1656 (circa 1636)
NPG D16303
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
published by Balthasar Moncornet, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1656 (circa 1636)
NPG D16304
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Balthasar Moncornet, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1656 (circa 1636)
NPG D19053
King Charles I and his adherents
after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Unknown artists
line engraving, 1660s
NPG D22672
King Charles I and his adherents
published by Samuel Speed, after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Unknown artists
line engraving, published circa 1663-1669
NPG D22673
The Frontispiece to Winstanley's ''Loyall Martyrology'', 1665
after Unknown artist
line engraving, published 1665
NPG D26783
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Alexander Browne, sold by Edward Cooper, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, late 17th century
NPG D26596
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1680
NPG D26599
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1680
NPG D26600
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
sold by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684 (1636)
NPG D6873
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1680 (circa 1636)
NPG D11061
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
sold by Alexander Browne, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1680-1684 (1636)
NPG D11414
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1680 (circa 1636)
NPG D16296
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1680 (circa 1636)
NPG D16297
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Robert White, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1680 (circa 1636)
NPG D16298
after Unknown artist
woodcut, published 1684
NPG D23930
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
printed and sold by Philip Overton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
mezzotint, circa 1684 (1636)
NPG D13682
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Charles Louis Simonneau (Simoneau), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1697
NPG D26607
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Charles Louis Simonneau (Simoneau), after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1697 (circa 1636)
NPG D16344
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D26608
King Charles I and his Supporters
by Joseph Nutting
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D10634
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Ignace Fougeron
line engraving, 18th century
NPG D16337
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by James Basire, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 18th century (1630s)
NPG D16330
King Charles I and his supporters
by Unknown artist
line engraving, early 18th century
NPG D19078
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1713
NPG D26595
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1713 (circa 1636)
NPG D16292
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1713 (circa 1636)
NPG D16293
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Michael Vandergucht, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1713 (circa 1636)
NPG D16295
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D26597
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16327
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16328
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, mid 18th century
NPG D16329
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford and Sir Philip Mainwaring
by George Vertue, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1739
NPG D26603
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford; Sir Philip Mainwaring
by George Vertue, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, 1739 (circa 1636)
NPG D16346
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1740 (1632-1633)
NPG D42070
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1740 (1632-1633)
NPG D42071
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1740 (1740)
NPG D42917
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford
by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Sir Anthony van Dyck
line engraving, published 1740 (1632-1633)
NPG D16345
Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford and Spencer Compton, 2nd Earl of Northampton
by George Vertue, after Sir Anthony van Dyck, and after Cornelius Johnson (Cornelius Janssen van Ceulen)
line engraving, published 1746
NPG D28207
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Laurie Pettitt
28 February 2017, 20:12
Wentworth used to order Portraits in Quantity. It must have been like the hole in the board in which you put your face at the seaside. He was certain of whom he wanted them sent to and even more certain to let the Artist know not to charge too much.
You need to read his Letters, in the Wentworth Papers to see the man behind the scowl. He Kept a full table in Ireland and at Home. The other papers to read vare those of George Radcliffe. The most touching was Strafford begging Gentle George NOT to visit him in the Tower because it woulld break Strafford's heart to see his old friend walk away. Wentworth also put a different 'spin' on the Killing of the Duke of Buckingham. Wentwort says that the Duke was approached the day before his death by a Sailor asking for his pay from one of Buckingham's fiascos. Buchingham kicked the man to the ground and killed him. The following day, Fenton approached Buckingham telling him that they had not been paid for their trip. Buckingham then tried the same tactics with Fenton and Fenton put Britain out of Buckingham's mysery. As a famous Corporal once said "They don't like it up them, Mr Mannering!"
Lord Capel deeply regretted allowing himself to be bullied in the Attainder of Strafford and King Charles learnt nothing from Strafford in Honesty or Honour. Charles was a King who deserved NONE of the sacrifices made for him.
Laurie Pettitt
05 June 2018, 10:16
Studying Wentworth makes a mockery of the alleged Cromwell saying 'Hell or Connaught!'. In 1635, Wentworth spent a year searching for defective titles in Connaught with a view to returning it to the Crown and possible Plantation.
Even so, his treatment of the people who had farmed the land for generations was fair. If they could prove generations of residency, they became tenants of the Crown, not the dodgy Nobles and Bishops who had grabbed the lands.
Wentworth also averted famines in Ireland by refusing to allow the export of grain, unless it was below a certain price per barrel.
He called the food and daddies in Charles' court 'Court Vermin' and administered justice in a way that powerful people walked away from his Deputy'court, bearing grudges that would eventually cost him his head and later, the King, his head.
One of the men in his Dublin administration was John Cooke, the prosecutor in the trial of Charles the first.
Just by chance, Cromwell chose him as his chief Justice of Munster.
Wentworth took his place in Ireland when the majority of the revenue was made up of recusancy fines on the Irish Catholics. He levelled that tax burden.
He introduced linen production and gained special terms on the levies on imports and exports. He even had the idea of Provisioning the Spanish Navy from Ireland. That, and the tax levelling was the reason he was accused of apostasy.
Thomas Wentworth is one of the brightest stars in the firmament of 17th Century History. If you know how Charles ignored and abused Wentworth until it was too late to remedy his mistakes, you will know Oliver Cromwell just a little bit better.