| John Churchill,
First Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722)
In this three-quarter length portrait of
the duke he is shown wearing armour, a blue sash with the Order
of the Garter, ermine and a red cloak, and carrying his field marshal's
baton, while standing in front of a battle scene. The subject matter
suggests that this may have been a private commission from the duke
or one from the king to commemorate his victory.
The enamel portrait is mounted in a silver-gilt
frame, the reverse of which is inscribed,
'John Duke of Marlborough'.
Charles Boit (1662-1727)
Charles Boit was born in Stockholm to French
parents. Initially apprenticed to a goldsmith in Stockholm, he later
travelled to Paris and then London when he was appointed court enameller
to William III.
When in England he received a commission
from Prince George of Denmark, consort of Queen Anne, for a very
large enamel commemorating the Battle of Blenheim. Boit received
an advanced payment of a thousand pounds (worth over £100,000
by year 2000) on which he lived grandly and presumably received
numerous smaller commissions on the strength of his royal patronage.
The Prince of Denmark died soon afterwards which put a temporary
halt to funding. In order to receive further advances, Boit executed
watercolours of his proposed design. These were claimed by some
to be far too large to be made into enamels - but they were certainly
large enough to encourage a further £700 of funding!
In 1714 Boit, having run into debt and,
having had his effects seized, fled to France. There he had considerable
success, gaining the patronage of the Regent Duke of Orleans. Nevertheless,
he died in Paris in poverty, leaving a wife and five children.
His works are in major museums, including
the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford and the V&A.
Glossaries
silver-gilt - the embellishment
of silver with a thin layer of gold
back to the collection
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John Churchill, First Duke
of Marlborough, by Charles Boit, c.1705. |
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the
Gilbert silver