Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem (1645-1689), Judge and Lord Chancellor
- Gallery portraits
- All known portraits
- Biography and References
Inclusive surveys of Jeffreys portraits were made by H. W. Woolrych, Judge Jeffreys, 1845, pp 402-04, and in Keeton 1965, app.iv, pp 512-16. While being indebted to these surveys, the following list is more selective.
1675
Painting by John Michael Wright, see NPG 6047.
c.1680
Painting after J. M. Wright, see NPG 56.
c.1684
Painting by Godfrey Kneller (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.391), as chief justice, half-length in painted oval, in robes (black skullcap just visible) and hood with SS collar. Version in the Somerset County Museum, from Orchard Wyndham (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6a). Engraved R. White (as Knt. & Baronet; Lord Chief Justice of England; And one of his Maties most Honble Privy Council Año Dñi 1684.); E. Luttrell 1684 (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 11).
1685-89
Painting attributed to Riley, as lord chancellor, half-length in Baron’s coronation robes (without white fur hood and SS collar), the head resembling the Kneller pattern of c.1684. Easton Neston sale, Sotheby’s, 17-19 May 2005, lot 56 (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6b; Lord Hesketh was a descendant of the sitter’s grand-daughter). Exhibited Age of Charles II, RA, 1960, no.365 as attributed to Riley. Rogers (note on file) tentatively suggested an attribution to Closterman (G. Vertue, Notebooks, Wal. Soc., XX, 1932, p 89, recorded a whole-length by Closterman belonging to a Mr Wright at Earls Court). A version without the fur-lined cape, attributed to Kneller, in the Harvard Law School collection (104; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.5a).
c.1686
Painting by Godfrey Kneller (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.392). Engraved R. White 1686 as bust-length oval as lord chancellor with SS collar; J. Oliver (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 8, the second state inscribed: … Earle of Flint Viscount Weikham Baron of Weim …), and anon. (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, III, p 1661, no.65; the second state was inscribed: Earle of Flint Viscount Weikham Baron of Weim …; illus. G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6c); Jeffreys was never granted an earldom or a viscountcy, though it was once in the offing (see G. E. Cockeyne, The Complete Peerage, under Flint). A reversed oval bust-length engraving, pub. E. Cooper, shows differing bands and collar (and see NPG 6047).
1687
Painting by Godfrey Kneller, whole-length in Baron’s coronation robes, holding the Great Seal, signed and dated (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.394; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9a). From Lord Brocket, Bramshill; Christie’s, 8 April 1938, lot 103; Sotheby’s, 16 July 1952, lot 56.
c.1687
Painting by Godfrey Kneller, whole-length in lord chancellor’s robes, same head as the Kneller whole-length of 1687, left hand on hip, the Great Seal on table to right, inscribed Discite justitiam moniti (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.393; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.8). Erddig, painted for the Inner Temple, but returned to the family in 1688/89, before being acquired by the Yorke family of Erddig in the 18th century. Versions at Chillingham Castle [Earl of Tankerville] (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9b) and with Lord Jeffreys (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9c). A half-length miniature copy by Joseph Allen also at Erddig (illus. G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9d; painted for an illustration to Philip Yorke’s Royal Tribes of Wales, 1799).
History
Painting by Antonio Verrio, James II giving audience to the Governors, masters, boys and girls of Christ’s Hospital, c.1682-88. Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, where installed 1902 having been moved from London (E. Croft-Murray, Decorative Painting in England, I, Early Tudor to Sir James Thornhill, 1962, p 238b, and 1970, p 318a); Jeffreys stands on the King’s right displaying the chancellor’s purse. A bodycolour copy which once belonged to Samuel Pepys is in the Yale Center for British Art (B1977.14.6307; P. J. Noon, English Portrait Drawings & Miniatures, Yale Center for British Art, 1979, no.17).
Doubtful Portrait
Painting attributed to Closterman, three-quarter-length seated in Judge’s robes, sold Sotheby’s, 8 March 1989, lot 26. Reduced version sold Christie’s South Kensington, 27 May 2004, lot 9; other versions include those in the National Museum of Wales (448) and the House of Lords (see G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pls 4a-4c).
This extended catalogue entry is from the National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, 2009, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.
1675
Painting by John Michael Wright, see NPG 6047.
c.1680
Painting after J. M. Wright, see NPG 56.
c.1684
Painting by Godfrey Kneller (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.391), as chief justice, half-length in painted oval, in robes (black skullcap just visible) and hood with SS collar. Version in the Somerset County Museum, from Orchard Wyndham (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6a). Engraved R. White (as Knt. & Baronet; Lord Chief Justice of England; And one of his Maties most Honble Privy Council Año Dñi 1684.); E. Luttrell 1684 (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 11).
1685-89
Painting attributed to Riley, as lord chancellor, half-length in Baron’s coronation robes (without white fur hood and SS collar), the head resembling the Kneller pattern of c.1684. Easton Neston sale, Sotheby’s, 17-19 May 2005, lot 56 (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6b; Lord Hesketh was a descendant of the sitter’s grand-daughter). Exhibited Age of Charles II, RA, 1960, no.365 as attributed to Riley. Rogers (note on file) tentatively suggested an attribution to Closterman (G. Vertue, Notebooks, Wal. Soc., XX, 1932, p 89, recorded a whole-length by Closterman belonging to a Mr Wright at Earls Court). A version without the fur-lined cape, attributed to Kneller, in the Harvard Law School collection (104; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.5a).
c.1686
Painting by Godfrey Kneller (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.392). Engraved R. White 1686 as bust-length oval as lord chancellor with SS collar; J. Oliver (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, 8, the second state inscribed: … Earle of Flint Viscount Weikham Baron of Weim …), and anon. (J. Chaloner Smith, British Mezzotinto Portraits, III, p 1661, no.65; the second state was inscribed: Earle of Flint Viscount Weikham Baron of Weim …; illus. G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.6c); Jeffreys was never granted an earldom or a viscountcy, though it was once in the offing (see G. E. Cockeyne, The Complete Peerage, under Flint). A reversed oval bust-length engraving, pub. E. Cooper, shows differing bands and collar (and see NPG 6047).
1687
Painting by Godfrey Kneller, whole-length in Baron’s coronation robes, holding the Great Seal, signed and dated (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.394; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9a). From Lord Brocket, Bramshill; Christie’s, 8 April 1938, lot 103; Sotheby’s, 16 July 1952, lot 56.
c.1687
Painting by Godfrey Kneller, whole-length in lord chancellor’s robes, same head as the Kneller whole-length of 1687, left hand on hip, the Great Seal on table to right, inscribed Discite justitiam moniti (J. D. Stewart, Godfrey Kneller, 1983, no.393; G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.8). Erddig, painted for the Inner Temple, but returned to the family in 1688/89, before being acquired by the Yorke family of Erddig in the 18th century. Versions at Chillingham Castle [Earl of Tankerville] (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9b) and with Lord Jeffreys (G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9c). A half-length miniature copy by Joseph Allen also at Erddig (illus. G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pl.9d; painted for an illustration to Philip Yorke’s Royal Tribes of Wales, 1799).
History
Painting by Antonio Verrio, James II giving audience to the Governors, masters, boys and girls of Christ’s Hospital, c.1682-88. Christ’s Hospital, Horsham, where installed 1902 having been moved from London (E. Croft-Murray, Decorative Painting in England, I, Early Tudor to Sir James Thornhill, 1962, p 238b, and 1970, p 318a); Jeffreys stands on the King’s right displaying the chancellor’s purse. A bodycolour copy which once belonged to Samuel Pepys is in the Yale Center for British Art (B1977.14.6307; P. J. Noon, English Portrait Drawings & Miniatures, Yale Center for British Art, 1979, no.17).
Doubtful Portrait
Painting attributed to Closterman, three-quarter-length seated in Judge’s robes, sold Sotheby’s, 8 March 1989, lot 26. Reduced version sold Christie’s South Kensington, 27 May 2004, lot 9; other versions include those in the National Museum of Wales (448) and the House of Lords (see G. W. Keeton, Jeffreys, 1965, pls 4a-4c).
This extended catalogue entry is from the National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, 2009, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.