Jan Wyck

Said to have been presented by the King to Sir William Temple (1628-1699), who married Dorothy, daughter of Sir Peter Osborn (d.1653), probably at Moor Park, near Farnham;
Thence by descent in the Osborn family at Chicksands Priory, Bedfordshire, until sold, London, Christie's, 12 July 1991, lot 9, for £14,000;
Private Collection, Ashdown House, Oxfordshire;
Ashdown House sale, London, Sotheby's, 27 October 2010, lot 91;
Private Collection, London.  

The canvas has an old relining, the paint surface is clean, and the varnish is clear and slightly uneven. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals a handful of small, scattered retouchings in the lower left corner and beside the horse's foremost hoof, and very finely-rendered lines in the sitter's face, infilling tiny craquelure. There is also some minor strengthening in the darks of the foliage, lower right, and in the shadowy ground beneath the horse, as well as to a couple of details in the horse's bridle. In overall very good condition.
"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 picture, which descended in the Osborn family at Chicksands until it was sold in 1991, is believed to have been given by King William III to the prominent essayist and statesman Sir William Temple. Temple served as ambassador to Holland under Charles II and James II, in which role he successfully negotiated the marriage of James's daughter, Princess Mary, to the Prince of Orange (the future William III) and the Triple Alliance of 1668. In 1655 Temple married Dorothy Osborne, daughter of Sir Peter Osborne, the Royalist governor of Guernsey, and in later life retired to Moor Park near Farnham where he employed the later famous Jonathan Swift as his secretary. Temple's nine children all predeceased him and following his death this picture passed to his wife's family at Chicksands.