Circle of Gerrit van Honthorst (1590-1656) - Portrait of Sir George Vane (b. c.1617)

Lot 112. bust-length, in armour, in a feigned oval with signature 'GHonthorst 1645' (lower right) - oil on panel - 29¾ x 22 7/8 in. (75.5 x 58.1 cm.) - Estimate: £3,000-5,000

Notes : Sir George Vane was one of four sons of Sir Henry Vane the elder (1589-1655) and Frances D'Arcy, daughter of Thomas Darcy of Tulleshunt Darcy in Essex. His father was one of the foremost statesmen in the reigns of both King James I and King Charles I, and was painted by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt (National Portrait Gallery, London). His elder brother, Sir Henry Vane the younger, also became a leading parliamentarian and confidant of Cromwell, and his sister, Catherine Vane, was active as a Puritan preacher during the Civil War (see lot 116).
Sir George married Elizabeth Maddison, daughter of Sir Lionel Maddison, and was invested as a Knight on 22 November 1640.

A further four paintings from the present collection are being sold at Christie's, King Street, in the sale of Old Master & British Pictures on 7th December 2007, lots 160-163.

Christie's. Old Master & British Pictures and Old Master Drawings.  December 2007. 85 Old Brompton Road, London