Enoch SEEMAN (1694 - 1744)

Portrait of The Hon George Treby, Secretary of War to George I

oil on canvas

56 x 46 inches, inc. frame

Price: £18,000 GBP

Enoch Seeman was born in Poland into a family of artists. Aged just 10 the family moved to England hence why Seeman is often considered to be an English painter. Following an early career emulating the work of Sir Godfrey Kneller, in 1717 Seeman became a court painter for the Hanoverian King of England, George I. He painted many notable society figures including Lady Poulett and Kings George the first and second.

This striking portrait represents George Treby, the Whig politician, Secretary of War and Master of the Household to George I. Treby built and lived at Plympton House in Devon and two of his sons and one grandson also became Members of Parliament for his former seat of Plympton Erle. This elegant image shows the seated Treby, influential politician and courtier, in a magnificent crushed velvet coat and pristine white stock, clearly at east with himself, staring confidently back at the viewer whilst resting his arm on a side table. Also on the table is a letter identifying the sitter as Treby.