Unknown man, formerly known as Daniel Purcell
- Overview
- Extended Catalogue Entry
© National Portrait Gallery, London
Unknown man, formerly known as Daniel Purcell
by Unknown artist
oil on canvas, circa 1700
22 in. x 18 1/2 in. (559 mm x 470 mm)
Given by Charles Burney, 1907
Primary Collection
NPG 1463
On display at Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley
Sitterback to top
- Daniel Purcell (1660?-1717), Musician; brother of Henry Purcell. Sitter associated with 1 portrait.
This portraitback to top
This portrait can be dated to the 1690s, from the evidence of the man's costume. He is shown seated at a harpsichord with a pile of music books, one of which is open at an unidentified 'Sonata Settima'. He holds a miniature portrait of an unknown woman, which he points to with his left hand. The sitter was formerly thought to be Henry Purcell (1659-95), or his brother Daniel (?1660-1716), who was also a composer.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 91
- Ribeiro, Aileen; Blackman, Cally, A Portrait of Fashion: Six Centuries of Dress at the National Portrait Gallery, 2015, p. 101
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 692
Events of 1700back to top
Current affairs
The sudden death of Prince William, son of Princess Anne and George, Prince of Denmark, triggers a succession crisis. His birth had secured the succession of the crown to a Protestant, safeguarding the throne from any future claim by James II's Catholic son, James Francis.Art and science
Dramatist, William Congreve's comedy The Way of the World premieres at Lincoln's Inn Theatre, receiving a mixed reception. It would achieve greater literary acclaim in modern times.Poet, John Dryden, dies and is buried in Geoffrey Chaucer's grave in Westminster Abbey.
International
Diplomat and poet, Matthew Prior, secretly negotiates with Louis XIV, king of France, a second partition treaty concerning the Spanish Empire. However, following the death of Spanish ruler, Carlos II, the agreement collapses since neither Spanish or Austrian governments accept the treaty's proposals.Comments back to top
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See this portrait
On display at Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley