Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland, wearing the Chancellor's Robes and the Garter Ribbon
by Anthony van Dyck (after)

Research by James Burkitt  

Acc No              63
Artist                 Anthony van Dyck (after) 
Artist dates       unknown
Medium            oil on canvas
Size                  91.4 x 73.7 cm (36 x 29 in)
Date painted     unknown
Donor                Alderman J H Dawson
Date donated    20 March 1939           
    

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PAINTING

Henry Percy was not a man to be confined by the conventions of his upbringing. At one time, in his younger years, he was a member of the School of Night, an esoteric club of noblemen, free thinkers (thought to be atheists), astronomers, mathematicians and explorers. At one time the group included Sir Walter Raleigh and the dramatist, Christopher Marlow. Percy’s various interests included poetry, soldiering, politics and science. He became a Knight of the Garter in 1593 and a Privy Councillor in 1603. Two years later he was accused of being involved in the Gunpowder Plot, which he vehemently denied, but because of his suspected Papist leanings he was ordered to pay £30,000, later reduced, and imprisoned for life, which was commuted to 16 years. He lived the remaining years of his life, from 1620, at Petworth and took no further part in public life. He died in 1632.

It was his son, Algernon Percy, the 10th Earl, who commissioned Van Dyck to paint his father’s portrait and in subsequent years it appears that several copies were made by lesser artists.

The original is now in Petworth House and a copy can also be found in the Royal College of Physicians.

According to Madeline Kovn (Vads – Portrait of Percy Howard),  'the Royal College of Physicians painting is thought to have come from a country house in the north of England (and)…is a 17th or 18th century copy….and there are other copies in Castle Howard and Lord Denbigh’s collection' and, it should be added, the St Annes copy is another. The date and the artist of this reproduction are unknown.

ARTIST

Van Dyck (1599-1641) was the foremost artist of his time and was widely appreciated. He is sometimes known as Anton van Dyck and Antonis van Dyck. He was born in Antwerp in 1599 and studied under Peter Paul Rubens, who said he was 'by far the best of pupils', and as his reputation grew he came to England and became one of the leading court painters. His portraits are recognised by the quality of light and realism and show the influence of, amongst others, Rubens and Titian. Considered the founder of the British School of Art, he undoubtedly benefited from the patronage of King Charles 1, whom he painted on several occasions. Amongst many British artists he inspired Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. He died in 1641.

REFERENCES

Luminarian: Encyclopedia Project, England under the Tudors

Royal College of Physicians collection

National Inventory of Continental English Paintings

VADS: Online research for visual arts

VADS, ibid.  Madeline Korn, Portrait of Percy Howard

Ed: G  Wolstenholme,
Van Dyck portraits, catalogue 11, pp164-5