Lot 175: Jan van Rossum (Viennese, 1630-1673) MARECHAL DE SCHOMBERG, c.1615-90

Jan van Rossum (Viennese, 1630-1673)
MARECHAL DE SCHOMBERG, c.1615-90
watercolour
inscribed upper right; extensively inscribed on reverse
h:10.25  w:6.50 in.

Provenance:
Mentmore Towers, Buckinghamshire;
Private collection, Sussex;
Whyte's, 28 April 2008, lot 150;
Whence purchased by the present owner

Frederick Armand de Schomberg, 1st Duke of Schomberg, was a distinguished military officer and second in command to King William III at the Battle of the Boyne. Born in Germany circa 1615, he was the son of Count Schomberg by the daughter of Lord Dudley. He served in six different armies, commanding the French army in Catalonia, and serving Frederick, Prince of Orange, in the Netherlands, among others. He was awarded the staff of the Marshall of France in 1675. After marrying a Huguenot woman, he came to England in 1688 with William of Orange. The following year he was sent to Ireland with the Williamite armies. He perished at the Battle of the Boyne on the 1st July 1690. The present work may be compared to Sir Godfrey Kneller's portrait, engraved in mezzotint c.1693 by John Smith, which shows him in full armour on a rearing horse.