THE HANDEL PORTRAIT AT ST. GILES

Abstract

;'UNLEss the Houbraken was an original portrait, the work on which it was based was certainly not the Kyte painting in the National Portrait Gallery, but work still awaiting discovery. So writes William C. Smith in his book 'Concerning Handel' (p. I 32) . In I 738 Walsh published an edition of 'Alexander's Feast' to which IX4 persons subscribed. A portrait of the composer engraved by Houbraken of Amsterdam was presented to each of the subscribers, and in the natural course of events three of these portraits would have found their way into the home of the Shaftesbury family, as Lord Shaftsbury, his wife and mother all subscribed to this work. The engraving is thought to have been done in I737 (the year of Handel's illness) from portrait which has never been traced. Houbraken's engraving has been frequently linked with small oil painting of Handel done by Francis Kyte in I74X, in spite of the fact that in Houbraken's work Handel looks to the right and in Kyte's he looks to the left. Mr. Smith has proved, however, that the dates of the respective works make it impossible for Houbraken to have made his engraving from Kyte's portrait. In April I734 Anthony Ashley-Cooper, fourth Earl of Shaftesbury, was already a profess'd friend of Handel, and by this means was able to gain admittance to party given by Mrs. Pendarves to which the composer was also invited. He was then 24 years old. How long was it before Handel actually became visitor to St. Giles House ? InJune I 736 he wrote to Shaftesbury thanking him for book on music written by the third Earl, and from I737 onwards Shaftesbury and his relatives regularly subscribed to Handel's operas. By December I74I Handel knew the family so well that he could write from Dublin to Jennens: One request I must make to you, which is that You would insinuate my most devoted respects to My Lord and Lady Shaftesbury, You know how much Their kind Protection is precious to me. This friendship was to last twenty-five years until Handel's death in I759, although Lady Shaftesbury died in I758. That Handel did in fact visit St. Giles, I was able to prove conclusively in my article in Music &? Letters, -X1ii (I96I), PP. I 27-3I . In the centre of St. Giles House is panelled hall on the wall of which hangs pastel portrait of Handel measuring 8W x 7 ins. On the back,