Cornelius Johnson

Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman

1629

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

In Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art: 1540

Free entry
Artist
Cornelius Johnson 1593–1661
Medium
Oil paint on oak
Dimensions
Support: 435 x 318 mm
frame: 565 x 470 x 60 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Purchased 1965
Reference
T00744

Display caption

This gentleman wears the crimson sash of the Order of the Bath but he has not been identified further. Like its paired portrait nearby, presumably of the sitter’s wife, this one bears Johnson’s monogram ‘C.J.’ and the date 1629. Three years later, Anthony van Dyck settled in Britain: his work was to influence Johnson’s style profoundly. These two earlier portraits, however, demonstrate Johnson’s characteristically intimate and pensive work, combined with the softened, rather brushy, technique of his mid-career.

Gallery label, February 2016

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Catalogue entry

Cornelius Johnson 1593–1661

T00744 Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman 1629

Inscr. ‘C. J. fec [. . ?] 1629’ b.r.
Panel, 17 1/16 x 12½ (43.5 x 31.5).
Purchased from the Executors of Captain E. G. Spencer- Churchill (Grant-in-Aid) 1965.
Coll: Thomas Lloyd by 1811; George, 3rd Lord Northwick by 1864; his widow 1887; her grandson, Capt. Spencer-Churchill, 1912; listed in catalogue, Christie’s, 29 October 1965 (31, with no. T00745), but previously sold to the Tate Gallery.
Lit: A Catalogue of the Pictures, Works of Art, etc. at Northwick Park, 1864, reprinted 1908, p. 15, no. 85; T. Borenius and L. Cust, Catalogue of the Collection of Pictures at Northwick Park, 1921, p. 124, no. 314, as of Henry Cary, 1st. Viscount Falkland; A. J. Finberg, ‘A Chronological List of Portraits by Cornelius Johnson, or Jonson’ in Walpole Society, X, 1922, p. 17, no. 39, as ‘Called Lord Falkland’.
Engr: Charles Turner, published by S. Woodburn 1811.

Although traditionally known as a portrait of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland (1610?–1643), and engraved as such in 1811, the figure is shown wearing the crimson sash of the Order of the Bath, of which the 2nd Viscount, unlike his father, was never a member; otherwise both the age and the appearance of the sitter are reconcilable with portraits of Falkland. The sash has been painted over the costume but appears to be original; in any case it is difficult to see why anyone would add the Order of the Bath to a genuine portrait of Falkland. In addition, Falkland did not marry until 1631, and there seems to be no reason to reject the probability that Nos. T00744 and T00745 are companion pictures, showing man and wife. It has been impossible to identify the true sitter among the various members of the Order of the Bath under Charles I; the 1st Viscount Falkland (c.1576–1633) would have been far too old to be the young man portrayed.

Published in The Tate Gallery Report 1965–1966, London 1967.

Early Stuart

Features

Cornelius Johnson, ‘Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman’ 1629

Portrait of an Unknown Gentleman 1629: By Cornelius Johnson

Rica Jones and Joyce H. Townsend

Read technical information about this painting resulting from examination and scientific analysis by conservators and conservation scientists at Tate

Explore

You might like

Cornelius Johnson, ‘Portrait of an Unknown Lady’ 1629

Cornelius Johnson Portrait of an Unknown Lady

1629
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T00745
Cornelius Johnson, ‘Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister’ 1620

Cornelius Johnson Portrait of Susanna Temple, Later Lady Lister

1620
T03250
Cornelius Johnson, ‘Portrait of an Unknown Lady’ 1646

Cornelius Johnson Portrait of an Unknown Lady

1646
N02530
Marcus Gheeraerts II, ‘Portrait of a Woman in Red’ 1620

Marcus Gheeraerts II Portrait of a Woman in Red

1620
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T03456
William Dobson, ‘Portrait of the Artist’s Wife’ c.1635–40

William Dobson Portrait of the Artist’s Wife

c.1635–40
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights T06640
John Souch, ‘George Puleston (?)’ c.1625–30

John Souch George Puleston (?)

c.1625–30
N06247
Marcus Gheeraerts II, ‘Portrait of a Man in Classical Dress, possibly Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke’ c.1610

Marcus Gheeraerts II Portrait of a Man in Classical Dress, possibly Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke

c.1610
T03466
attributed to Sir William Segar, ‘Portrait of a Man in a Slashed Black Doublet’ c.1605

Attributed to Sir William Segar Portrait of a Man in a Slashed Black Doublet

c.1605
T03576
Daniel Mytens the Elder, ‘Portrait of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, Later 3rd Marquis and 1st Duke of Hamilton, Aged 17’ 1623

Daniel Mytens the Elder Portrait of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran, Later 3rd Marquis and 1st Duke of Hamilton, Aged 17

1623
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N03474
Sir Anthony Van Dyck, ‘Portrait of Sir William Killigrew’ 1638

Sir Anthony Van Dyck Portrait of Sir William Killigrew

1638
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T07896
Cornelius Johnson, ‘Apolonius Veth’ 1644

Cornelius Johnson Apolonius Veth

1644
N01320
Sir Anthony Van Dyck, ‘Portrait of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew’ 1638

Sir Anthony Van Dyck Portrait of Mary Hill, Lady Killigrew

1638
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T07956
Cornelius Johnson, ‘Cornelia Veth’ 1644

Cornelius Johnson Cornelia Veth

1644
N01321
Robert Peake, ‘Lady Anne Pope’ 1615

Robert Peake Lady Anne Pope

1615
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T00068
Unknown artist, Britain, ‘Portrait of William Style of Langley’ 1636

Unknown artist, Britain Portrait of William Style of Langley

1636
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art T02308