Lot 110: Willem Adriaensz. Key (Breda c. 1515/6-1568 Antwerp)

Willem Adriaensz. Key (Breda c. 1515/6-1568 Antwerp) Portrait of a gentleman, bust-length, in a black doublet with gold buttons and a white ruff oil on oak panel 16 7/8 x 12 7/8 in. (42.9 x 32.8 cm.)

42.9 x 32.8 cm.

Hilda Mary Makeig-Jones; (†) Sotheby''s, London, 14 December 1977, lot 14.

In a letter of August 1817 to the then owner of the picture, Joseph Waring of Barnes Terrace, Surrey, the writer tells how the portrait had been shown to the Prince Regent who was 'much pleased' with it and had sent for Sir Thomas Lawrence to give his opinion, which was that 'it was not in the best manner of the master' (apparently meaning van Dyck!).