Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford

studio of Sir Anthony van Dyck
oil on canvas, circa 1636
54 1/8 in. x 43 in. (1374 mm x 1091 mm)
Given by Sir Gyles Isham, 12th Bt, 1967
Primary Collection
NPG 4531

Sitterback to top

Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593-1641), Statesman. Sitter associated with 109 portraits.

Artistback to top

Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641), Painter. Artist associated with 1023 portraits, Sitter associated with 30 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

Audio Guide
Smartify image discovery app
Cooper, John, Oliver the First: Contemporary Images of Oliver Cromwell, 1999, p. 26
Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 594

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1636back to top

Current affairs

The third daughter of Charles I, Princess Anne, is born. She dies aged three of natural causes at Richmond Palace.
Severe outbreak of the bubonic plague closes London theatres. They remain almost continuously closed until the end of the year.

Art and science

Canvases by painter, Sir Peter Paul Rubens are installed on the ceiling of the Banqueting House. Commissioned by Charles I, the paintings celebrate the life and wise government of his father, James I.
The favourite portraitist of James I's queen Anne of Denmark, Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, dies.

International

Scottish army officer, Alexander Leslie, Earl of Leven, is appointed Swedish Field Marshal in Westphalia, and commands forces in a decisive victory over Imperial-Saxon forces at the Battle of Wittstock.
North America's first college, New College, is founded in Massachusetts; two years later, its name would be changed to Harvard.

Tell us more back to top

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Laurie Pettitt

08 April 2019, 19:49

Wentworth ordered pictures in bulk. He had discounts for copies and a further discount if the copy was half length. On one of his visits from Ireland to present the King with his picies and actions, many of the Rich had abandoned London because of plague. Wentworth used the situation to extract a further discount.
What people should learn about Wentworth was that he was possibly the most enlightened statesman of his time.

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