Museum number
A2
Object
Oil Painting: Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester (1642–1711) by Willem Wissing (c.1656-1687), c. 1685
Description

Wissing probably painted this portrait of Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, shortly after James II appointed Rochester as Lord High Treasurer in 1685. In the same year Rochester became a Knight of the Garter and here he is splendidly attired in full garter robes.

Between Lely's death in 1680 and his own in 1687, Wissing rivalled Kneller in attaining commissions from the court and nobility. This portrait was probably commissioned by Rochester's prot\'e9g\'e9e, the politician Francis Gywn, from whose collection at Forde Abbey it was acquired by Sir William Hoburne in 1846 after the death of the last heir.

Portrait of Laurence Hyde, three-quarter length, face slightly to left, in magnificent Garter robes. He wears a collar from which hangs the jewel of St. George. Recent conservation work has revealed great attention to detail in the painting of the costume.The second son of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, Laurence Hyde had a long and fascinating political career. He was created Earl of Rochester by Charles II in 1682, and then appointed Lord High Treasurer of England by James II in 1685, though dismissed in 1687 because of his strong Protestant beliefs. By the close of William III's reign he had been named Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and was retained in that office by Queen Anne when she came to the throne. The artist William Wissing (who is also represented in the Holburne collection by a portrait of William III as Prince of Orange, Museum number A10) was born in Amsterdam and studied under Willem Doudyns at The Hague. In about 1676 he came to England, where he worked in the studio of Sir Peter Lely. On Lely's death in 1680 Wissing became for a short time the only significant rival to Godfrey Kneller for the patronage of the court and the nobility. His early death, at the age of thirty two, cut short a promising career.
Materials
Oil
Inscription
front cr '.SOIT.QVI' [garter regalia]
On display?
Yes

Further description

Simple name
Painting
Subject
Portrait
Dimensions
framed: 150.0000cm (h) x 125.0000cm (w)
regular: 97.8cm (h) x 123.8cm (w)
Laurence Hyde, Earl of Rochester (1642-1711) Willem Wissing (c.1656-1687) Oil on canvas, c.1685 Willem Wissing came to London from Holland around 1676 and was soon painting for the King and courtiers. This portrait of James II’s Lord High Treasurer is a superb example of his work, acquired by Sir William Holburne from Forde Abbey in Dorset. The artist demonstrates his meticulous attention to detail and texture in painting Rochester’s shimmering robes, silver lace, and fluffy ostrich feathers. This politician seems very much at ease in his heavy wig and Order of the Garter insignia. A2

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