N. Matteis. Portrait in oils of the composer by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt., 1682

Nicola Matteis

Portrait of the composer by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt.

oil on canvas, in a painted oval, unlined, overall size 93 x 80cm, inscribed and signed on the verso of the canvas ("Nicholas Matteis / G. Kneller F. / 1682")

The only known portrait of the Italian violinist, guitarist and composer Nicola Matteis (d. after 1713).

Resident in England, Matteis probably arrived there around 1670, and soon gained a reputation for virtuosity on the violin. As Peter Walls has observed, he was in fact a key player in the development of violin playing in England, introducing there the thumb-on-stick bow grip. His son Nicola (late 1670s?-1737) was also a violinist and composer.

This fine portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller was executed in the same year (1682) as the publication of the English-language edition of Matteis's ground-breaking treatise on thorough-bass realization for the guitar, Le false consonanse della musica. The German-born Kneller (1646-1723) was the leading portrait painter in England during the late Stuart and early Georgian period.

LITERATURE:

Michael Tilmouth, 'Nicola Matteis', The Musical Quarterly, vol.xlvi, no.1 (January 1960), pp.22-40, reproduced; Philip H. Highfill, A biographical dictionary of actors, actresses, musicians, dancers, managers & other stage personnel in London, 1660-1800 (Illinois, 1984), p.141; TNG, xvi (2001), pp.134-135

PROVENANCE:

Lord Anglesey (old label verso); William Barrow, Llandudno; by descent to his heir, Miss D. Weir; Sotheby's, London, 10 April 2013 (lot 35)