Fine original oil portrait painting by the British artist Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723). On canvas. Unlined. The only known portrait of this noted Italian violinist, guitarist, and composer. 1682
- SIGNED
Image size 30 x 25.5 inches (76.8 x 64.8 cm). In an ornate painted wooden frame, 37.25 x 32.25 inches. (94.8 x 81.8 cm).
The subject is depicted turned quarter-left, with long hair (possibly a wig), wearing a rich dark brown jacket pinned at the right shoulder and a green and white cravat. With "Nicola Matteis / G. Kneller Fecit / 1682" in manuscript to verso.
Provenance
Old label to verso indicating that the painting once belonged to Lord Anglesey. It is later recorded as belonging to William Barrow of Llandudno in the 1960s and by descent to his heir, Miss D. Weir. Last sold at Sotheby's sale of Old Master & British Paintings in London on 10 April 2013 (lot 35): "This signed and dated work is the only known portrait of the first notable Italian Baroque violinist to have settled in London. A composer of significant popularity in his time and a virtuoso performer he revolutionised the use of the violin in London and introduced the Italian style of playing the instrument into English taste." Sotheby's catalogue entry
Minor surface wear. Frame slightly worn, with small 1/2" area of upper edge of lacking. Reproduced in Michael Tilmouth's important article on Matteis in The Musical Quarterly, Vol. XLVI, No 1, between pp. 28 and 29.
Although Matteis referred to himself as a "Napolitano" in several of his musical publications, he seems to have taken up residence in England in ca. 1670.
"[He] was clearly an extraordinary violinist and a key figure in the development of violin playing in England. ... Matteis was active as a teacher and, according to North, had ‘many scollars’. He was to have joined Purcell, Draghi, Keller and Finger on the staff of the proposed Royal Academy (1695). In 1696 John Walsh (i) advertised ‘A Collection of new Songs set by Mr Nicola Matteis made purposely for the use of his Scholars.' " Peter Walls in Grove Music Online
In addition to various collections of instrumental and vocal works, Matteis published the important treatise "Le false consonanse della musica" in London, ca. 1680, issued in an English translation as "The False Consonances of Music." It is considered "... an important ground-breaking treatise on thorough-bass realization for the guitar (though Matteis several times stressed the applicability of his instructions to other continuo instruments and included some general advice on performance and composition)." ibid
The German-born artist Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) was a leading portrait painter in England. His works are held in many prominent museum collections including the National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal Society, Kensington Palace, and Buckingham Palace in London; at Hampton Court; Oxford University; and the National Portrait Gallery in Dublin.
The subject is depicted turned quarter-left, with long hair (possibly a wig), wearing a rich dark brown jacket pinned at the right shoulder and a green and white cravat. With "Nicola Matteis / G. Kneller Fecit / 1682" in manuscript to verso.
Provenance
Old label to verso indicating that the painting once belonged to Lord Anglesey. It is later recorded as belonging to William Barrow of Llandudno in the 1960s and by descent to his heir, Miss D. Weir. Last sold at Sotheby's sale of Old Master & British Paintings in London on 10 April 2013 (lot 35): "This signed and dated work is the only known portrait of the first notable Italian Baroque violinist to have settled in London. A composer of significant popularity in his time and a virtuoso performer he revolutionised the use of the violin in London and introduced the Italian style of playing the instrument into English taste." Sotheby's catalogue entry
Minor surface wear. Frame slightly worn, with small 1/2" area of upper edge of lacking. Reproduced in Michael Tilmouth's important article on Matteis in The Musical Quarterly, Vol. XLVI, No 1, between pp. 28 and 29.
Although Matteis referred to himself as a "Napolitano" in several of his musical publications, he seems to have taken up residence in England in ca. 1670.
"[He] was clearly an extraordinary violinist and a key figure in the development of violin playing in England. ... Matteis was active as a teacher and, according to North, had ‘many scollars’. He was to have joined Purcell, Draghi, Keller and Finger on the staff of the proposed Royal Academy (1695). In 1696 John Walsh (i) advertised ‘A Collection of new Songs set by Mr Nicola Matteis made purposely for the use of his Scholars.' " Peter Walls in Grove Music Online
In addition to various collections of instrumental and vocal works, Matteis published the important treatise "Le false consonanse della musica" in London, ca. 1680, issued in an English translation as "The False Consonances of Music." It is considered "... an important ground-breaking treatise on thorough-bass realization for the guitar (though Matteis several times stressed the applicability of his instructions to other continuo instruments and included some general advice on performance and composition)." ibid
The German-born artist Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) was a leading portrait painter in England. His works are held in many prominent museum collections including the National Portrait Gallery, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Royal Society, Kensington Palace, and Buckingham Palace in London; at Hampton Court; Oxford University; and the National Portrait Gallery in Dublin.