Lot 265: JACOB HUYSMANS (ANTWERP 1630-1696 LONDON)

JACOB HUYSMANS (ANTWERP 1630-1696 LONDON)
Portrait of Sir William Widdrington, 2nd Baron Widdrington of Blankney (d.1675), standing three-quarter-length, in a buff coat with white sleeves with red bows, his hand resting on a helmet and holding a baton, a young boy, possibly his son or page, at his side holding a breastplate, a view to a battle beyond
with erroneous identifying inscription 'Sυr. Wυm. Widdrington Kυt. v Barυt./1υsυt Lord Widdrington of Blankney' (lower left)
oil on canvas
51¾ x 51 in. (131.5 x 130 cm.)

By descent to Mary (d. 1731), daughter of William 3rd Baron Widdrington, who married Richard Towneley (1687-1735).
Thence by descent to Maurice Herbert Towneley Towneley-O'Hagan, 3rd Baron O'Hagan (1882-1961).
Offered Christie's London, Property of the Rt. Hon. The Lord O'Hagan, 19 May 1939, lot 81 (as Van Dyck).
The Property of Charles Towneley Strachey, 4th Baron O'Hagan, (b. 1945), Sotheby's London, 13 July 1994, lot 21, where purchased by Captain Francis Newton Heron Widdrington (1920-2008).

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.
The later inscription on the present portrait erroneously identifies the sitter as William 1st Baron Widdrington. It in fact depicts his son and heir, William, 2nd Baron Widdrington (d. 1675) who accompanied the Marquis of Newcastle to England at the Restoration of Charles II and was made a Colonel of a regiment of foot and Governor of Berwick in September 1660. In 1667 he was Captain of a troop of horse and was made Colonel of Colonel Sir George Hamilton's regiment in 1673. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Peregrine Bertie in 1654. William, 2nd Baron Widdrington is depicted with a young boy carrying his breastplate, traditionally identified as his page, but most likely his son, William, later 3rd Baron Widdrington (1656-1695). To his right Huysmans shows a fiery battle, and the date and dress suggest this possibly relates to action seen by the 2nd Baron as part of Colonel Hamilton's regiment in France during the early 1670s.