Sir Henry Gage

Sitterback to top

• Sir Henry Gage (1597-1645), Royalist. Sitter associated with 2 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Weesop. Artist of 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

Of Catholic family and a Royalist, Gage was educated and lived on the Continent before entering the Spanish service, in which he served mainly in the Netherlands where he raised and commanded a regiment of his own. He used his influence to prevent supplies reaching Parliamentary forces from Holland, and in 1644 returned to England to offer his services to Charles I. A valuable addition to the Royalist side, he was knighted and made Governor of Oxford. This portrait of him is thought to have been painted by a Netherlandish artist. The view of the Italianate, classicizing landscape may be a reference to his time on the continent prior to military service. Intriguingly, it is lit the reverse way from the figure, suggesting perhaps a lapse of concentration on behalf of the artist who is likely to have copied the background from another source.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 132
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 235

Subject/Themeback to top

• Lyme Park