Description

Title: Portrait Oil Painting General John Lambert in Armour New Model Army Commander

Description:

Portrait of General John Lambert in Armour (1619–1684), Mid-19th Century English School, After Robert Walker

Composition & Technique
This commanding mid-19th century c1840 oil on panel portrait painting presents General John Lambert in bust-length, framed within a painted oval cartouche. Title "General John Lambert, New Model Army Commander". He wears a polished steel cuirass enriched with gilt trim and a finely rendered lace cravat. The work closely follows Robert Walker’s 17th-century prototype, executed in the manner of Walker and reflecting the Victorian fascination with the heroic figures of the English Civil War. Bold contrasts and crisp highlights—hallmarks of revivalist portraiture—heighten the sitter’s martial gravitas.

About the Sitter
General John Lambert (1619–1684) was among the most brilliant commanders of the New Model Army. He distinguished himself at Marston Moor (1644) and proved decisive at Preston (1648). A gifted statesman as well as soldier, Lambert drafted the Instrument of Government (1653)—the first written constitution in British history.
Though offered supreme power, Lambert declined, remaining loyal to the Commonwealth. After Cromwell’s death he sought to preserve the republic, but with the Restoration he was imprisoned for the last 24 years of his life, dying on Guernsey in 1684. Admired even by enemies, Lambert endures as a figure of integrity, intellect, and tragic downfall.

About the Artist
The original likeness derives from Robert Walker (d. 1658), Cromwell’s favored portraitist and principal artistic chronicler of the Commonwealth. Walker’s portraits of Cromwell, Fairfax, Ireton, and Lambert defined how history visualizes these leaders. This Victorian interpretation reflects the 19th-century revival of Civil War subjects, when collectors inspired by writers such as Thomas Carlyle sought faithful recreations of Walker’s iconic sitters.

Signed
Unsigned, as typical for English school 19th-century works after Old Master prototypes.

� Frame
Recently reframed to museum standards in a premium Larson-Juhl “Essentials” gilt moulding (Ref. 793246000) and fitted with AR70 museum-grade anti-reflective glass for crystal clarity and UV protection. This collector-level presentation ensures both display impact and long-term conservation.

Size
Frame dimensions: 27 cm high × 24.5 cm wide × 1.5 cm depth

Provenance
Notable northern long-established Northern auctioneers (founded in the 1840s).
We have kept the old frame which this painting came in, we can include if you wish it is inscribed to reverse: “Harrods 79 likely referencing earlier exhibition, framing, or sale through Harrods Fine Art Department, London. Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD & A Museum exhibition label verso.

� Why You’ll Love It
Rare Subject: Portraits of Lambert are scarcer than those of Cromwell or Fairfax.
Prestigious Lineage: Directly after Robert Walker, Cromwell’s court portraitist.
Collector-Grade Presentation: Newly reframed with Larson-Juhl moulding and AR70 glazing.
Conversation Piece: A vivid window into England’s only experiment with republican rule.
Victorian Grandeur: Reflects the 19th-century rediscovery of Civil War heroes.

Condition (Painting Surface)
Oil on panel in good, stable condition. The panel shows no warping or splits. The paint layer is secure, with craquelure and varnish wear consistent with its mid-19th-century age. Colours remain strong—note the clean metallic sheen across the armour and healthy flesh tones. Some paint touch ups to the outer background areas in places. The surface retains an authentic, attractive period character. Professionally reframed in a Larson Julh gilt moulded frame with a fitted front AR70 museum glass for long-term preservation.

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A rare opportunity to acquire a Victorian revivalist portrait After Robert Walker, celebrating one of the English Civil War’s most compelling generals—presented in museum-grade framing and glazing, with precise size documentation, and ready for the finest collection or interior.

Reserve: $8,220.00

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Condition

Used

Buyer's Premium

20%

Portrait Oil Painting General John Lambert in Armour New Model Army Commander

Name: Portrait Oil Painting General John Lambert in Armour New Model Army Commander
SKU: 225794253
Price: 4000 USD
Availability: InStock