Principal Painter in Ordinary
Encyclopedia
The title of Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King or Queen of England or, later, Great Britain, was awarded to a number of artists, nearly all mainly portraitists. It was different to the role of Serjeant Painter
, and similar to the earlier role of "King's Painter
". Other painters, for example Nicholas Hilliard
had similar roles without the title, which seems to have been first used for Anthony van Dyck
in 1632.
The following is a partial list of painters (in chronological order) who held the appointment of Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, or Queen:
Serjeant Painter
The Serjeant Painter was an honorable and lucrative position with the British monarchy. It carried with it the prerogative of painting and gilding all of the King's residences, coaches, banners, etc. and it grossed over £ 1,000 in a good year by the 18th century...
, and similar to the earlier role of "King's Painter
Artists of the Tudor court
The artists of the Tudor court are the painters and limners engaged by the monarchs of England's Tudor dynasty and their courtiers between 1485 and 1603, from the reign of Henry VII to the death of Elizabeth I....
". Other painters, for example Nicholas Hilliard
Nicholas Hilliard
Nicholas Hilliard was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some larger cabinet miniatures, up to about ten inches tall, and at least two famous...
had similar roles without the title, which seems to have been first used for Anthony van Dyck
Anthony van Dyck
Sir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...
in 1632.
The following is a partial list of painters (in chronological order) who held the appointment of Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King, or Queen:
Born 16th or 17th Century
- Sir Anthony Van DyckAnthony van DyckSir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...
(1599–1641) (born Flemish) Principal Painter in Ordinary to King Charles I and his Queen (1632, at a £200 per annum retainer, plus payment for pictures made) - Sir Peter Lely (Dutch, 1618-1680) Principal Painter in OrdinaryOrdinaryIn those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
to King Charles II (1661, also £200 per annum) - Sir Godfrey Kneller (German, 1646-1723) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King (1680-1723)
- William KentWilliam KentWilliam Kent , born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, was an eminent English architect, landscape architect and furniture designer of the early 18th century.He was baptised as William Cant.-Education:...
(1685-1748) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King (1723-1748), who was mainly a designer of interior decorations.
Born 18th Century
- John ShackletonJohn ShackletonJohn Shackleton was a British painter and draughtsman who produced history paintings and portraits. His parents and origins are unknown.-Output:...
(1714-1767) Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George II and then King George III - Allan Ramsay (1713-1784) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King (1761-1784)
- Sir Joshua ReynoldsJoshua ReynoldsSir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
(1723–1792) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King - Sir Thomas LawrenceThomas Lawrence (painter)Sir Thomas Lawrence RA FRS was a leading English portrait painter and president of the Royal Academy.Lawrence was a child prodigy. He was born in Bristol and began drawing in Devizes, where his father was an innkeeper. At the age of ten, having moved to Bath, he was supporting his family with his...
(1760–1830) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King - Sir David WilkieDavid Wilkie (artist)Sir David Wilkie was a Scottish painter.- Early life :Wilkie was the son of the parish minister of Cults in Fife. He developed a love for art at an early age. In 1799, after he had attended school at Pitlessie, Kettle and Cupar, his father reluctantly agreed to his becoming a painter...
(1785–1841) Principal Painter in Ordinary to the King William IV and then Queen Victoria - Sir George HayterGeorge HayterSir George Hayter was a notable English painter, specialising in portraits and large works involving in some cases several hundred individual portraits...
(1792–1871) Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria 1841-1871
Born 19th Century
- James SantJames SantJames Sant CVO, RA was a British painter specializing in portraits, and a member of the Royal Academy.Sant was born in Croydon and taught by John Varley and Augustus Wall Callcott. He lived to the age of 96 and produced an astonishing number of canvases for exhibition at the Academy, some 250 of...
(1820-1916) Principal Painter in Ordinary to Queen Victoria 1871-1901