William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford

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© National Portrait Gallery, London

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William Russell, 1st Duke of Bedford

by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
oil on canvas, circa 1692
96 1/2 in. x 60 1/2 in. (2451 mm x 1537 mm)
Purchased, 1870
Primary Collection
NPG 298

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt (1646-1723), Portrait painter. Artist or producer associated with 1689 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In this portrait the sitter wears the red coronation robes of a Duke beneath the blue mantle of a Knight of the Order of the Garter, folded back on one side to reveal its white lining. The Duke wears the chain of the Order of the Garter, with a jewelled pendant showing Saint George killing the dragon. On the table is the Order's plumed hat. Beneath his knee is the Garter itself, inscribed with the first two words of the motto of the order, 'Honi Soit qui mal y pense', usually translated in English as 'Evil be to him who evil thinks'. More detailed information from a catalogue entry by John Ingamells, one of a limited number of entries drafted in 2010 for the incomplete catalogue, Early Stuart Portraits 1625-1685, work on which will be resumed once funding is available.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Piper, David, Catalogue of Seventeenth Century Portraits in the National Portrait Gallery, 1625-1714, 1963, p. 25
  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 44

Events of 1692back to top

Current affairs

Statesman and member of the Privy Council, John Churchill is dismissed from office by the monarchs and later imprisoned on suspicion of collaborating with Jacobites.
Jacobite sympathisers in the Scottish Highlands, the MacIain clan, are murdered by government troops led by Robert Campbell, in the Glencoe Massacre.

Art and science

Antiquary, Thomas Rymer, is appointed historiographer royal. Rymer would spend the rest of his life transcribing the history of England's alliances and treaties with foreign countries, publishing them in sixteen volumes.
Nahum Tate is appointed Poet Laureate.
Composer, Henry Purcell, stages the dramatic opera, The Fairy-Queen.

International

Attempts by French and Jacobite-Irish forces to invade England and restore James II to the English throne are thwarted at the naval Battle of La Hogue. The English victory is principally achieved by Vice-Admiral George Rooke's destruction of the enemy's fleet.

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