Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox
- Artist: Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
- Date: circa 1703
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 36 in. x 28 in. (914 mm x 711 mm)
- Portrays: Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is a portrait of Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox. Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt paints him in oil on canvas from about 1703, the work measuring roughly 36 by 28 inches. Look closely at his attire: he wears a richly embroidered doublet with a wide sash, and the subtle shading around his face gives a sense of depth that was typical of late‑17th‑century portraiture.
Notice the painter’s careful handling of light—soft highlights on his cheekbones contrast with deeper shadows under his brow. The background is a simple drapery that lets us focus entirely on Lennox himself, as if he were seated in an indoor setting yet looking directly at the viewer.
Charles Lennox was a courtier and son of King Charles II; this portrait joins ten others that document his presence at court during the early 1700s. Sir Godfrey Kneller’s studio produced about thirty portraits around this time, so you’re seeing a representative example of his work in oil on canvas.
See it in person
Charles Lennox, 1st Duke of Richmond and Lennox is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
