Lot Essay
The sitter was the second but eldest surviving son of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton (1573-1624) through his notorious marriage to Elizabeth Vernon, niece of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex. A man of moderate views, Southampton was described by Burnet as a 'man of great virtue and of very good parts; he had a lively apprehension and a good judgement.' In the growing constitutional crisis of the 1630s, Wriothesley found himself initially opposed to the policies of King Charles I and Lord Strafford, siding instead with Lord Essex, his cousin. However he grew increasingly disillusioned with the vehemence of Strafford's enemies, and disassociated himself from Essex when criminal proceedings were initiated. On 3 May 1641 he declined assent to Pym's 'protestation against plots and conspiracies' - a document signed by every member of both houses of Parliament, save for Lord Robartes and himself. Thereafter Southampton sided entirely with the King, remaining by him with few intervals until his death. On the night following the King's execution, Southampton obtained leave to watch by the body in the banqueting hall at Whitehall, and told that in the darkness a muffled figure entered, who muttered 'Stern necessity'. He affirmed his conviction that the visitor was Cromwell.
During the Commonwealth, Southampton lived in retirement at his estates at Beaulieu, in Hampshire. At the Restoration, he was created a Knight of the Garter by King Charles II, and was created Lord High Treasurer of England later in the year. On his death, Pepys wrote: 'There is a good man gone', calling him 'a very ready man, and certainly a brave servant of the king.'
Southampton's Hampshire estates passed to Elizabeth, Duchess of Montagu, his daughter by his second wife, and ultimately to the Lords Montagu of Beaulieu. His London estates, including his residence on the north side of what is now Bloomsbury Square, passed to Rachel, Lady Russell, his second daughter by his first wife. After her death they were inherited by her son, Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680-1711), forming the London estates of the Dukes of Bedford.
This portrait derives from the celebrated double portrait of Lord and Lady Southampton (Private Collection, England). Other versions of this type include the three-quarter-length portrait of Lord Southampton in the collection of the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, and a half-length portrait in the collection of the Marquess of Bath, at Longleat.
During the Commonwealth, Southampton lived in retirement at his estates at Beaulieu, in Hampshire. At the Restoration, he was created a Knight of the Garter by King Charles II, and was created Lord High Treasurer of England later in the year. On his death, Pepys wrote: 'There is a good man gone', calling him 'a very ready man, and certainly a brave servant of the king.'
Southampton's Hampshire estates passed to Elizabeth, Duchess of Montagu, his daughter by his second wife, and ultimately to the Lords Montagu of Beaulieu. His London estates, including his residence on the north side of what is now Bloomsbury Square, passed to Rachel, Lady Russell, his second daughter by his first wife. After her death they were inherited by her son, Wriothesley, 2nd Duke of Bedford (1680-1711), forming the London estates of the Dukes of Bedford.
This portrait derives from the celebrated double portrait of Lord and Lady Southampton (Private Collection, England). Other versions of this type include the three-quarter-length portrait of Lord Southampton in the collection of the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, and a half-length portrait in the collection of the Marquess of Bath, at Longleat.