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Gilbert Soest

c.1605–1681

Portrait of a Gentleman with a Dog, Probably Sir Thomas Tipping c.1660
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Biography

Gerard Soest (c. 1600 – 11 February 1681), also known as Gerald Soest, was a portrait painter who was active in England during the late 17th century. He is most famous for his portraits of William Shakespeare and Samuel Butler, but painted many members of the English gentry.

Soest was traditionally thought to have come from Soest in Westphalia, but was probably from Soest, Netherlands, being Dutch by birth and training. He seems to have been in England by the late 1640s, and his paintings at this time show the influence of William Dobson. His earliest known work is dated 1646.

He had a moderately successful career, but was never fashionable and never managed to get commissions from courtiers and royalty.

Soest's portrait of Shakespeare was owned by Thomas Wright of Covent Garden in 1725 when it was engraved by John Simon. It was painted by Soest at least 30 years after Shakespeare's death. George Vertue states that it was based on a man who resembled Shakespeare, while the pose and costume suggest the influence of the Chandos portrait.

This biography is from Wikipedia under an Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons License. Spotted a problem? Let us know.

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Restoration Court Later Stuart 2 more art terms …

Artworks

  • Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk

    Gilbert Soest
    c.1670–5
  • Portrait of a Gentleman with a Dog, Probably Sir Thomas Tipping

    Gilbert Soest
    c.1660
  • Double Portrait

    Gilbert Soest
    c.1645–8
  • Portrait of a Lady as a Shepherdess

    Gilbert Soest
    c.1670

Features

  • Essay

    Portrait of a Lady as a Shepherdess c.1670 by Gilbert Soest

    Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

  • Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk c.1670–75 by Gilbert Soest

    Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

  • Portrait of a Gentleman with a Dog, Probably Sir Thomas Tipping c.1660 by Gilbert Soest

    Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Related art terms

Restoration Court Later Stuart Baroque Netherlands-trained, working in Britain

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