Jan Wyck

Sir William Temple (1628-1699) who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Peter Osborn;
Thence by descent in the Osborn family, Chicksands Priory, Bedfordshire, until sold, London, Christie's, 12th July 1991, lot 9 (bt. for £14,000)

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. There is no visible loss of paint and there are no apparent damages. There is a dirty and discoloured varnish overall and some very minor abrasion in the extreme lower right corner. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals one very small area of retouching just below the horse's front hooves, otherwise there does not appear to be any further retouching or restoration. Ultraviolet also confirms the opacity of the discoloured and dirty varnish. FRAME Held in a gilded wooden frame. To speak to a specialist about this lot please contact Julian Gascoigne on +44 (0)207 293 5482, or at julian.gascoigne@sothebys.com.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This painting has an interesting provenance linking it with William III whom Wyck painted on many occasions. It descended in the Osborn family, apparently from Dorothy, daughter of Sir Peter Osborn, who married the statesman Sir William Temple (1628-1699). After the Restoration, Temple became M.P. for Carlow and was involved in a number of missions to the continent, specifically to Brussels and to Holland. In 1674 he was sent as ambassador to The Hague following the peace between Holland and England, and played a part in arranging the marriage between William of Orange and Princess Mary. He later retired to Moor Park where he devoted himself to his writing and to work on the grounds of his estate.

The exact date of Wyck's arrival in England is not known, but records at the Painter-Stainers Company confirm that he was in London by 1674. A number of his compositions featured equestrian portraits of William III, notably the King's landing at Torbay, the Battle of the Boyne and the Siege of Namur.