Not on display
- Artist
- Sir Peter Lely 1618–1680
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 1232 × 1010 mm
frame: 1595 × 1220 × 120 mm - Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Purchased 1921
- Reference
- N03583
Display caption
Van Helmont, shown here aged about fifty-three, was a celebrated alchemist and physician. This portrait was probably commissioned by Lady Conway of Ragley shortly after Van Helmont arrived in England in 1670.
An inscription on the pedestal in the lower right corner, probably added in the eighteenth century, describes one aspect of the skills which brought Van Helmont fame: ‘Anne Finch Viscountess Conway dying at / Rageley 1678 while her Lord was in Ireland / She was preserved in her Coffin by Van Helmont / with a Glass over her face, till Lord Conway’s return ...’
Gallery label, August 2004
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Features
You might like
-
Sir Godfrey Kneller John Smith the Engraver
1696 -
Sir Peter Lely Girl with a Parrot
c.1670 -
Sir Godfrey Kneller The First Marquess of Tweeddale
1695 -
Sir Peter Lely Two Ladies of the Lake Family
c.1660 -
Sir Peter Lely Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare
c.1679 -
Sir Peter Lely Susanna and the Elders
c.1650–5 -
Gilbert Soest Henry Howard, 6th Duke of Norfolk
c.1670–5 -
Sir Peter Lely Portrait of an Unknown Woman
c.1670–5 -
Sir Peter Lely Boy Playing a Jew’s Harp
c.1648 -
Sir Peter Lely Man Playing a Pipe
c.1648 -
Gilbert Soest Portrait of a Gentleman with a Dog, Probably Sir Thomas Tipping
c.1660 -
Sir Godfrey Kneller Portrait of John Banckes
1676 -
Unknown artist, Britain, attributed to John Greenhill Portrait of Richard Colman
c.1662 -
Simon Du Bois Portrait of a Gentleman, probably Arthur Parsons MD
1683 -
Sir Godfrey Kneller Philip, 4th Lord Wharton
1685
