DOI Heft:
No. 328 (July 1920)
DOI Artikel:Williamson, George Charles: Miniatures in the Pierpont-Morgan Collection, [7]: Prince Rupert's portrait
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21360#0176
MINIATURES IN THE PIERPONT MORGAN COLLECTION
“ DORDRECHT.” BY
JAMES MARIS
MINIATURES IN THE PIERPONT
MORGAN COLLECTION. VII:
PRINCE RUPERT'S PORTRAIT *
IT cannot be stated in so many definite
words that the miniature we present to
our readers this month is actually a portrait
of the celebrated prince whose name it
bears. There is, however, considerable
evidence in favour of such an assump-
tion, and it shows a marked and striking
resemblance to the accepted portraits of
the eminent virtuoso, artist, warrior, and
traveller. 0 0 0 0 0
Moreover, its history when the late Mr.
Morgan acquired it was an interesting one.
It came from some remote descendants of
the Killigrew family, from which sprang
the wit and dramatist, Thomas Killigrew,
and the story was that it was a gift made
to him by Prince Rupert himself in Drury
Lane Theatre, on the occasion of the
presentation, with great success, of one of
Killigrew's plays at which Rupert was
present. We always hesitate to reject
a tradition entirely. It is generally founded
on some detached fact, and it is borne out
* The previous articles in this series appeared in
our issues of November and December 1914, October
1915, July 1916, July 1917, and August 1918.
170
in this case by the likeness and general
character of the portrait and the well-
known generosity of the prince. Be all
this as it may, we have here a very fine
portrait, probably by Samuel Cooper him-
self, certainly worthy of him, and if not
his actual work, by some great painter of
his period. 0000a
Of Prince Rupert we need say but little,
his character is so well known. The third
son of the Elector Frederick by his wife,
our own English princess, so popular that
she was styled The Queen of Hearts; he
was born shortly after his ill-fated father
had been proclaimed King of Bohemia.
His portrait as a boy appears in the famous
bracelet belonging to the German Emperor
which at one time contained portraits of
all the family by Alexander Cooper,
brother of Samuel. His dates were 1619-
1682, his renown that of a chemist, the
inventor of “ Prince Rupert's drops " and
other curiosities; an engraver, the first
important one to use the new art of mezzo-
tinting and to improve and render it all-
powerful in his hands ; a collector ; lover
of the stage, and one who was popular with
every person whom he met. He was also
a sailor and vice-admiral, and he lies in
Westminster Abbey. Hewas never married,
“ DORDRECHT.” BY
JAMES MARIS
MINIATURES IN THE PIERPONT
MORGAN COLLECTION. VII:
PRINCE RUPERT'S PORTRAIT *
IT cannot be stated in so many definite
words that the miniature we present to
our readers this month is actually a portrait
of the celebrated prince whose name it
bears. There is, however, considerable
evidence in favour of such an assump-
tion, and it shows a marked and striking
resemblance to the accepted portraits of
the eminent virtuoso, artist, warrior, and
traveller. 0 0 0 0 0
Moreover, its history when the late Mr.
Morgan acquired it was an interesting one.
It came from some remote descendants of
the Killigrew family, from which sprang
the wit and dramatist, Thomas Killigrew,
and the story was that it was a gift made
to him by Prince Rupert himself in Drury
Lane Theatre, on the occasion of the
presentation, with great success, of one of
Killigrew's plays at which Rupert was
present. We always hesitate to reject
a tradition entirely. It is generally founded
on some detached fact, and it is borne out
* The previous articles in this series appeared in
our issues of November and December 1914, October
1915, July 1916, July 1917, and August 1918.
170
in this case by the likeness and general
character of the portrait and the well-
known generosity of the prince. Be all
this as it may, we have here a very fine
portrait, probably by Samuel Cooper him-
self, certainly worthy of him, and if not
his actual work, by some great painter of
his period. 0000a
Of Prince Rupert we need say but little,
his character is so well known. The third
son of the Elector Frederick by his wife,
our own English princess, so popular that
she was styled The Queen of Hearts; he
was born shortly after his ill-fated father
had been proclaimed King of Bohemia.
His portrait as a boy appears in the famous
bracelet belonging to the German Emperor
which at one time contained portraits of
all the family by Alexander Cooper,
brother of Samuel. His dates were 1619-
1682, his renown that of a chemist, the
inventor of “ Prince Rupert's drops " and
other curiosities; an engraver, the first
important one to use the new art of mezzo-
tinting and to improve and render it all-
powerful in his hands ; a collector ; lover
of the stage, and one who was popular with
every person whom he met. He was also
a sailor and vice-admiral, and he lies in
Westminster Abbey. Hewas never married,