General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle

General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle

about 1668
Artist
John Michael Wright, 1617-1694
Country
England
Object
painting
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Accession Number
2020.2
Credit Line
Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust

John Michael Wright, General George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle, About 1668. Oil paint on canvas; 60 × 50 3/4 in. (152.4 × 129 cm). Gift of the Berger Collection Educational Trust, 2020.2
 

Dimensions
image height: 60 in, 152.4000 cm; image width: 50 3/4 in, 128.9050 cm; frame height: 70 1/2 in, 179.0700 cm; frame width: 60 7/8 in, 154.6225 cm; frame depth: 2 1/2 in, 6.3500 cm
Department
European and American Art Before 1900
Collection
European Painting and Sculpture before 1900

 

General George Monck (1608–1670) was largely responsible for restoring the exiled Charles II to the throne, marking the end of republican rule in England. The grateful king knighted Monck and made him 1st Duke of Albemarle. Monck is shown here at the height of his distinguished military career. The picture commemorates the historic moment on May 25, 1660, when General Monck, as head of the armed forces, officially welcomed Charles II to England on the White Cliffs of Dover. 

Known Provenance
Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Castle; Christie’s, London, June 4, 1937, lot 127; Leggatt Brothers, London, September 1937; Brocket sale, Sotheby’s, London, July 16, 1952, lot 101; H. Murphy, Esq., Castello House, Hull, Yorkshire; his sale, Dee Atkinson & Harrison, Driffield, Yorkshire, February 6, 1998, lot 564; Sarandon Consultants Ltd., Tortola, B.V.I.; from whom acquired by William M. B. Berger and Bernadette Johnson Berger, Denver, 1998; Berger Collection Educational Trust; gifted to the Denver Art Museum, 2020. Provenance research is on-going at the Denver Art Museum and we will post information as it becomes available. Please e-mail provenance@denverartmuseum.org, if you have questions, or if you have additional information to share with us.
Exhibition History
  • "Portraits of Andrew Marvell and his Contemporaries"—Ferens Art Gallery, Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, U.K., 1978, no. 39
  • “Treasures from the Berger Collection: British Paintings 1400-2000” — Denver Art Museum, 10/2/2014 – 9/9/2018
  • "Treasures of British Art 1400-2000: The Berger Collection"—Portland Museum of Art, 10/02/2014 - 01/04/2015
  • Dixon Gallery and Gardens, 01/25/2015 - 04/19/2015
  • Brigham Young Museum of Art, 08/14/2015 - 01/05/2016
  • Taft Museum of Art, 06/10/2017 - 10/01/2017
  • Joslyn Art Museum, 06/03/2018 - 09/09/2018
  • Denver Art Museum, 03/02/2019 - 01/05/2020
  • “Age of Armor” — Denver Art Museum, 5/15/2022 – 9/5/2022