Sir Godfrey Kneller (British 1646-1723), William Coventry, 5th Earl of Coventry (1676-1751)

Sir Godfrey Kneller (British 1646-1723)William Coventry, 5th Earl of Coventry (1676-1751)Oil on canvas laid to boardSigned and dated 1720 (lower left), inscribed with sitter's details (verso)124 x 100.5cm (48¾ x 39½ in.)Provenance: Croome Court, Worcestershire Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Wiltshire Sale, Sotheby's Property of Sir John Coventry Esq, 15 May 1929, lot 82 Private collection, London Sale, Christie's, London, Anonymous Sale, 17 October 1986, lot 101 Private collection, Monte CarloWilliam Coventry, 5th Earl of Coventry was born in 1676, the son of Walter Coventry and his wife Anne Holcombe, daughter of Humphrey Holcombe, a wealthy London merchant. William inherited the Earldom in 1719, despite being only distantly related to the Earl's of Coventry; his grandfather being the youngest brother of Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry. It is perhaps for this reason we see the large Coventry coat of arms painted on the wall to the right, behind William. Although the composition is a typical format of Kneller's later works, the inclusion of the family coat of arms surmounted by the Earl's coronet is most unusual. In addition, William's lavish maroon velvet jacket covered in an excess of gold brocade detail is significantly more decorative than many jackets worn by other nobleman in Kneller's portraits, and it is clear to see William wished to visually display his wealth and status. William appears to have moved into Croome Court, the Coventry family seat built in 1649, as soon as he became the 5th Earl and immediately went about improving the earnings of the estate. William's son George would later go on to employ Lancelot 'Capability' Brown to redesign the gardens and house in a style that befit the mid-18th century fashions. As well as inheriting the Earldom that year, 1719, was also the year that William was married to Elizabeth Allan, daughter of John Allen of Westminster, of whom Kneller also painted in a now lost pendent portrait shortly after the marriage. This portrait was thus almost certainly painted to celebrate both William's rise to the peerage and his marriage.Condition Report: The canvas has been previously restored and the paint surface is stable. There is a small repaired tear (approx. 8cm) running diagonally through the coat of arms upper right. This is only faintly noticeable in natural light. There are some further smaller repairs to the upper edge, and some associated retouching. Inspection under UV reveals scattered retouching throughout, including to the repaired areas above. There is also a green cloudy varnish. Overall this work is in good restored condition and ready to hang.Condition Report Disclaimer