Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle

Sitterback to top

• Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle (1669-1718), General. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 1666 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Albemarle was a Dutch-born courtier who came to England as a page to William III in 1688. The king granted him an earldom and Irish lands in 1696, much to the disgust of Parliament which resented William's generosity to his Dutch favourites. Albemarle remained a particular friend of the king, and on William's death returned to Holland to pursue a military career. Known as a cheerful and generous man, he is shown in this portrait wearing armour and the magnificent wig which, it is said, he wore to cover a port-wine mark that he had on his cheek.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 4
• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 4
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 7