Details
After Peter Paul Rubens, 17th Century
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, nearly full face in black doublet, the shoulder slashed to reveal white, lace-bordered lawn collar
oil on copper, in carved foliate frame
rectangular, 2 3/8 x 1 7/8in. (60 x 48mm.)
See Front Cover Illustration
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, nearly full face in black doublet, the shoulder slashed to reveal white, lace-bordered lawn collar
oil on copper, in carved foliate frame
rectangular, 2 3/8 x 1 7/8in. (60 x 48mm.)
See Front Cover Illustration
Further details
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (1592-1628), was the younger son by a second marriage of Sir George Villiers of Brokesby in Leicestershire. He was sent to France by his mother to master the courtly accomplishments of riding, dancing and duelling and on his return met King James I at Apethorpe in 1614 who was immediately attracted to the handsome young man. The King showered him with titles and estates. Buckingham was granted York House which he altered at vast expense and he built up a spectacular collection of pictures on the advice of Balthasar Gerbier. The Duke had a special love for Venetian painting of the sixteenth century and he helped form the tastes of Prince Charles. Rubens was another favourite painter of the Duke and on 9 August 1629, Rubens wrote to Peirsca 'when it comes to fine pictures by the hands of first-class masters, I have never seen such a large number in one place as in the royal palace, and in the gallery of the late Duke of Buckingham' (R.S. Magurn, The Letters of Peter Paul Rubens, Cambridge, Mass., 1955, p. 322).