George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem
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© National Portrait Gallery, London
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem
by John Michael Wright
oil on canvas, 1675
47 3/4 in. x 39 3/4 in. (1213 mm x 1010 mm)
Purchased, 1989
Primary Collection
NPG 6047
On display in Room 7 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
Sitterback to top
- George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem (1645-1689), Judge and Lord Chancellor. Sitter in 14 portraits.
Artistback to top
- John Michael Wright (1617-1694), Painter. Artist or producer associated with 29 portraits.
Linked publicationsback to top
- Smartify image discovery app
- Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 133
- Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 335
- Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame: Artists, Patrons and the Framing of Portraits in Britain, 1997 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 8 November 1996 - 9 February 1997), p. 55, 154 Read entry
Carved and gilt oak, the back roughly cut with a slight chamfer, mason's mitre with signs of repair, the top cresting of one piece, the back frame replaced. 3 3⁄ 4 to 5 inches wide, the bottom mask 6 1⁄ 2 inches.
This is a fine example of the Sunderland frame in its fully developed form with an irregular sight edge, which was popular in the 1670s. The type is found on other examples of Wright's work, for example his portraits of Mrs Herbert at Claydon, Colonel John Russell at Ham (a portrait of 1659 in a slightly later frame) and Sir John Corbet at the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, as well as on the work of other artists, especially that of Sir Peter Lely as at Althorp, Ham and Kingston Lacy.
Many Sunderland frames of this type were made by the leading carver and gilder John Norris. He supplied the first of the frames for Wright's 'Fire Judges' for the Guildhall in 1671, in a heavy variation on the design. The frame on this portrait of Judge Jeffreys remains undocumented, however.
Subjects & Themesback to top
Events of 1675back to top
Current affairs
James Scott, Duke of Monmouth oversees the suppression of the London weavers' riots which break out in the East End against the introduction of mechanised silk looms.The great fire of Northampton quickly destroys the city. Charles II donates timber for its reconstruction.
Art and science
Charles II founds the Royal Observatory in Greenwich and appoints John Flamsteed the first Astronomer Royal.Royal approval is given to the 'Warrant' design, Sir Christopher Wren's design for the rebuilding of St. Paul's Cathedral devastated by the Great Fire (1666).
International
A naval campaign into the Mediterranean under the command of Sir John Narbrough, with protégé, Cloudesley Shovell as lieutenant, blockades the port of Tripoli and successfully halts persistent attacks on English merchant ships by North African pirates. A peace treaty is signed with Tripoli in 1676.Comments back to top
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