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SIR ANTHONY VAN DYCK ( 1599-1641)

  SIR JOHN SUCKLING

Canvas, 50 inches by 72 inches

FULL length standing figure, leaning against a grey rock, on which is engraved "Ne te quaesiveris extra" ( "Look not further for thyself" ). The hair is flowing and red; he is dressed in a blue jacket, over which is a scarlet mantle, fastened on the right shoulder by a golden button; on his legs appear buff leather boots. Mentioned in Rev. Alfred Suckling's " Life of Sir John

                             Suckling ."
        "             "   John Aubrey's Biography, ii.550.
        "             "   Dict. of Nat. Biograp.
        "             "   Lionel  Cust's " Anthony van Dyck," p. 47
        "             "   Jules Guiffrey's " Anthony van Dyck."
        "             "   Waagen's " Walks Through the Art 
                            Treasures, " p. 47.

Exhibited: Old Masters, Manchester, 1857. Previously owned by Sir John Suckling's sister, Lady

                           South-cott.
        "              "   Sir Thos. Lee, Bart., Hartwell, Ayles-bury.
        "          "  "   Dr. Lee

Sir John Suckling ( 1609-42 ) was born at Whitton, Middlesex, the son of a secretary of state to James I. He studied at Trinity College, Cambridge; served in the army of Gustavus Adolphus, and, on his return from the Continent, in 1632, become famous at court for his wit and prodigality. He raised a troop of horse to fight with Charles I against the Scots; was a member of Long Parliament; joined the abortive plot to rescue Stanford from the Tower and then fled for refuge to France, where impoverished and disgraced, he poisoned himself. His works include plays, letters, prose treatises and many ballads and songs.

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