John, First Duke of Marlborough by Sir Godfrey Kneller in 1705

This portrait is of a VIP – John Churchill (an ancestor of Winston) who was an accomplished General.  He doesn't look very military in the painting. He looks very self assured (some might even say smug).  And his clothes are unbelievably elaborate.

Kneller was a very successful portraitist – including doing portraits of 10 reigning monarchs.

He was born in Germany as Gottfried Kneller but obviously anglicised his name.

My attention was drawn to this work by a huge doorstop of a book I got from the library – The Art Book from Phaidon Press.  Get it out if you have strong enough muscles.   There are 579 pages, each dedicated to one work by an artist.  The artists are in alpha order so you get interesting juxtapositions between modern art and old masters.