Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/sir-joshua-reynolds-444" aria-label="More by Sir Joshua Reynolds" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Sir Joshua Reynolds</a>
4th Duke Marlborough and his Family
Bequeathed by Henry Vaughan 1900
adults
animals: mammals
arch
architecture
child
children
curtain
dog - non-specific
domestic
door
estate
family
family
features
furnishings
groups
interior - non-specific
interiors
landscape
man
Marlborough, George Spencer, 4th Duke of
named families
named individuals
objects
people
portraits
society
Spencer family
woman
<p>Reynolds rarely made preliminary sketches even for complex compositions. But the magnificent group of the family of the Duke of Marlborough, which still dominates the Red Drawing Room at Blenheim Palace, was clearly an exception. Conceived in the grandest traditions of Rubens and Van Dyck, it was to influence society portraiture into this century. This sketch shows the painter struggling with the problem of integrating the solemn splendour of the adults with a more modern, relaxed informality preferred for young children and dogs. The end result shows brilliantly the range of Reynolds's wit and originality as a portraitist.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
24 June 2023 – 29 October 2023
2023-10-29
24 June 2023 – 29 October 2023
2023-10-29
2023-06-24
The Box (Plymouth, UK)
2023-06-24
Sir Joshua Reynolds
Loan-out
Sketch for ‘The 4th Duke of Marlborough and his Family’
support: 552 × 508 mm
frame: 761 × 719 × 85 mm
Bequeathed by Henry Vaughan 1900
<p>Reynolds rarely made preliminary sketches even for complex compositions. But the magnificent group of the family of the Duke of Marlborough, which still dominates the Red Drawing Room at Blenheim Palace, was clearly an exception. Conceived in the grandest traditions of Rubens and Van Dyck, it was to influence society <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portraiture</span></a> into this century. This sketch shows the painter struggling with the problem of integrating the solemn splendour of the adults with a more modern, relaxed informality preferred for young children and dogs. The end result shows brilliantly the range of Reynolds's wit and originality as a portraitist.</p>
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2004-09-02T00:00:00
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adults animals: mammals arch architecture child children curtain dog - non-specific domestic door estate family family features furnishings groups interior - non-specific interiors landscape man Marlborough, George Spencer, 4th Duke of named families named individuals objects people portraits society Spencer family woman