Portrait of George Clarke (1661-1736) (Studio of Sir Godfrey Kneller), Godfrey Kneller

Studio of sir godfrey kneller, bt. Portrait of george clarke (1661-1736) inscribed on two old labels, verso: this belongs to lord hyde, and: in mary shaw's legacy / to lord cornbury oil on canvas the sitter was the the son of sir william clarke, secretary of war for the king during the civil war. A fellow of all souls, and m. P. For oxford university in 1685 (and later from 1717 to 1736), clarke was himself secretary of war from 1692 to 1704, secretary to prince george of denmark when lord high admiral, and lord of the admiralty from 1712 to 1714. A prominent figure at court from a noted royalist family, clarke appears to have been a close friend of henry hyde, lord cornbury, later 2nd earl of clarendon, who inherited this painting from his father's secretary. It relates to two portraits at worcester college, oxford, one of which is inscribed with the sitter's name. Date: 17th/18th century.