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Robert Walker

1 of 3 portraits of Robert Walker

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Robert Walker

by Robert Walker
oil on canvas, circa 1645-1650
29 in. x 24 in. (737 mm x 610 mm)
Purchased, 1886
Primary Collection
NPG 753

Sitterback to top

  • Robert Walker (1599-1658), Painter. Sitter in 3 portraits, Artist or producer associated with 143 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Robert Walker (1599-1658), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 143 portraits, Sitter in 3 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery: An Illustrated Guide, 2000, p. 64
  • Saumarez Smith, Charles, The National Portrait Gallery, 1997, p. 64 Read entry

    Not much is known about Robert Walker, the artist who painted both John Evelyn and Oliver Cromwell and who is known to have been favoured by leading Parliamentarians, beyond the fact that he was a member of the Painter-Stainers' Company, had rooms in Arundel House in 1652 and maintained the style of Van Dyck for his portraits of the Parliamentarian leaders. In 1658 he was described as one of the most eminent masters in England. Otherwise almost the only evidence of his personality appears in this dashing self-portrait.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 638

Events of 1645back to top

Current affairs

First proposed by Sir WiIliam Waller, the New Model Army, the first national army consisting of full-time soldiers, is recruited by Parliament. Under the leadership of Thomas Fairfax, Commander-in-Chief, the Army decisively wins the battles of Naseby and Langport against the Royalists.
Archbishop William Laud is beheaded for treason.


Art and science

Alexander Ross, clergyman and philosopher publishes The Philosophical Touch-Stone, an important refutation of the unorthodox Aristotelianism expounded by Sir Kenelm Digby in his Two Treaties.
Physician Daniel Whistler, presents his thesis on rickets at the Dutch university of Leiden, the first printed text on the disease.

International

Charles I commissions Edward Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, to secretly negotiate with Irish Confederates. For generous concessions the Confederates would raise an army to fight against parliamentarians. Ongoing, complex negotiations secure the signing of two treaties but the king eventually disavows the agreements and repudiates Somerset.

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