Artwork
Charles Beauclerk (1670–1726), Duke of St. Albans
Charles Beauclerk (1670–1726), Duke of St. Albans is an oil painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller. It dates from 1696 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil painting by Godfrey Kneller, created in 1696, portrays Charles Beauclerk, the first Duke of St.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Its composition follows contemporary conventions of elite portraiture, using sober attire and a direct gaze to underscore the sitter’s noble rank and authority.
The painting portrays Charles Beauclerk, 1st Duke of St. Albans, a member of the English aristocracy. Rendered in oil on canvas around 1690 by Sir Godfrey Kneller (and possibly John Smibert), the work is classified as a portrait and was executed during Kneller’s tenure as principal painter to the court. Its composition follows contemporary conventions of elite portraiture, using sober attire and a direct gaze to underscore the sitter’s noble rank and authority.
As a piece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the image functions as a visual record of aristocratic identity in late‑Stuart England.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1690, this portrait utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 126.7 cm in height and 102.9 cm in width, presenting a formal depiction of the sitter consistent with the genre conventions of the late seventeenth century. Attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller, with some internal records also noting John Smibert, the piece employs standard materials for portraiture of the period to render the figure of the Duke of St. Albans.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St. Albans, was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller in 1690, executed in oil on canvas. According to the work's documented inception date, it was produced in that year as a formal portrait of the sitter. The painting subsequently entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
No additional details regarding an earlier commission, intermediate ownership, or chain of custody prior to the museum's acquisition are recorded in the available sources.
The portrait is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded as accession number 1975.1.178. The canvas measures 126.7 cm in height and 102.9 cm in width and is catalogued as a work by Sir Godfrey Kneller dated to 1690.
The painting has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its permanent collection displays, with records indicating continued institutional holding from at least 1975 onward.
Overview
This oil painting by Godfrey Kneller, created in 1696, portrays Charles Beauclerk, the first Duke of St. Albans. Kneller, a leading portraitist of his time, captured the duke in a formal pose, characteristic of late 17th-century aristocratic portraiture. The work is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, representing a key example of British art from the Stuart period.
Context
Godfrey Kneller, a German-born artist, rose to prominence as the foremost portrait painter in Britain during the late Stuart and early Georgian periods. He served as court painter to successive English and British monarchs, creating official likenesses for royalty, nobility, and other influential figures, including scientists and foreign dignitaries. This portrait exemplifies his skill in capturing the status and character of his subjects.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (born Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723) was a German-born British painter.
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