Circle of Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 – London 1723)Portrait of a gentleman in a garden Oil on canvas 67 x 47 cm. - Framed 84 x 64 cm. FULL DETAILS (click HERE) The painting depicts a nobleman portrayed full-length and dressed in classical attire, woven sandals, and seated at the base of a stone fountain; he is immortalized in a lush garden with a vase brimming with a rich floral bouquet and a terracotta pot containing a mandarin plant. This is a type of portrait very popular among the nobility, especially English, in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, where the portrayed subject loved to admire himself stripped of his ornaments, without pompous clothes, fashionable accessories, or elaborate hairstyles, this to demonstrate that his status and value did not depend solely on material wealth exhibited with opulence. In 17th and 18th century England, citrus trees like the one depicted were often grown in large pots, kept outside during the summer and transported back inside, to heated orangeries, for the winter. Thus, the inclusion of such a fruit in this portrait is an indication of the man's wealth and social status, by virtue of the great difficulties with which it was cultivated. The painting should therefore be associated with an English painter active around the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, orbiting in particular in the circle of Sir Godfrey Kneller, official painter of the English court and considered, together with Peter Lely and Willem Wissing, among the masters of English portraiture between the '600s and '700s. He painted every reigning British sovereign, from King Charles II to George I, as well as the most important figures in British society and public life. These works, exhibited in royal palaces, were admired and so appreciated by the public, that they induced a large group of clients, mainly nobles, to want his workshop to take care of their family portraits. Below we mention some of his portraits, which like ours show some members of the British high aristocracy immortalized in lush gardens often accompanied by natural elements such as flowers and plants instead of rich jewels and precious fabrics. Among these, for comparative purposes, the portrait of Prince William, Duke of Gloucester (1693), of Countess Catherine of Dorchester (1685), of John Cecil fifth Earl of Exeter (1696), and also the portrait of James Cecil, Earl of Salisbury (https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw38421/James-Cecil-5th-Earl-of-Salisbury). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The work is complete with a pleasant gilded frame and is sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and guarantee. We take care and organize the transport of the purchased works, both for Italy and abroad, through professional and insured carriers. It is also possible to see the painting in the gallery in Riva del Garda, we will be happy to welcome you to show you our collection of works. In case of purchase of the work by non-Italian customers, it will be necessary to obtain an export permit that requires about 15/20 days, our gallery will take care of the entire phase until obtaining it. All costs of this procedure are included. Contact us, without obligation, for any additional information. Follow us also on: INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/galleriacastelbarco/?hl=it FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/galleriacastelbarco/