The Capel Family

Artistback to top

• Cornelius Johnson (1593-1661), Portrait painter. Artist associated with 133 portraits, Sitter associated with 2 portraits.

Sittersback to top

• Mary, Duchess of Beaufort (1630-1715), Wife of 1st Duke of Beaufort. Sitter associated with 2 portraits.
• Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel (1604-1649), Royalist. Sitter associated with 21 portraits.
• Elizabeth, Lady Capel (died 1661), Wife of 1st Baron Capel. Sitter in 1 portrait.
• Henry Capel, 2nd Baron Capel (1638-1696), Establisher of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew; Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Sitter associated with 3 portraits.
• Charles Capel (died 1656 or 1657). Sitter in 1 portrait.
• Elizabeth, Countess of Carnarvon (1633-1678), Wife of Charles Dormer, 2nd Earl of Carnarvon. Sitter in 1 portrait.
• Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex (1631-1683), Soldier. Sitter associated with 12 portraits.

This portraitback to top

A member of the Long Parliament, Lord Capel was so shocked by the violence of the opinions predominant there that he became a loyal supporter of the King. He escorted Queen Henrietta Maria to France in 1646, and helped Charles to escape briefly in 1647. He was taken prisoner in 1648 and executed in the Tower. His eldest son Arthur fought as a twelve-year-old in the Royalist army. After the Restoration, his anti-Catholic views led him to oppose the accession of James II and participate in the Duke of Monmouth's schemes. Imprisoned in the Tower, he died there in suspicious circumstances. Henry Capel also supported the attempt to exclude James II and subsequently held office under William III. He is responsible for establishing a garden at Kew. His sister Elizabeth was a talented botanical artist and Mary became a distinguished horticulturalist. Appropriately, the Capels are pictured here posing in front of their formal garden at Little Hadham. The composition of Johnson's group is influenced by Van Dyck's Charles I and Henrietta Maria with their two Eldest Children (Royal Collection, 1632).

Related worksback to top

• NPG D17231: Arthur Capel, 1st Baron Capel ()

Linked publicationsback to top

• Audio Guide
• I-Spy National Portrait Gallery, 2010, p. 19
• Bennett, Sue, Five Centuries of Women and Gardens, 2000 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 5 October 2000 to 21 January 2001), p. 35
• Cooper, John, Visitor's Guide, 2000, p. 32
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 20
• John Cooper, National Portrait Gallery Visitor's Guide, 2006, p. 32
• Piper, David, The English Face, 1992, p. 70
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 73
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 58
• Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 58
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 721

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Children
• Family and children tour
• Family portraits
• Gardens
• Group portraits
• Landscapes
• On display at the Gallery
• Stuarts and Civil War tour