RICHARD GIBSON

This is a fine example of the work of Richard Gibson, the artist’s characteristic copper-toned ground exposed to illustrate the gloss of the sitter’s well-dressed hair. It is well preserved, revealing his distinctive hatching technique for flesh tones. 

It dates to around the time of his appointment as ‘picturemaker’ to King Charles II. He was given the position just two weeks after the death of his contemporary, Samuel Cooper (1607/8-1672), who had dominated court commissions since the early 1640s. Gibson would only hold the post for a year and was superseded by Nicholas Dixon (1616-1708). Nevertheless, Gibson continued what had been a long and successful career with a new role as drawing master to the daughters of James, Duke of York (1633-1701), later James II. He taught Princesses Mary and Anne for a number of years and went with Mary to Amsterdam when she married Prince William of Orange.