Very Large Early 19th Century English School Portrait Oil Painting of Sir Charles Digby (31 May 1775 - 26 May 1841), the Canon of Windsor Castle (St. GeorgeÂ’s Chapel, located inside Windsor Castle).

Artist: Attributed to or Studio of the famed leader of English portrait painting Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 - 7 January 1830), the most fashionable and sought after English portrait painter of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Further Description: An Oil on Canvas housed in its gorgeous large original ornate gold gilt gesso wood frame - constructed by the renowned framemaker George Foord (c.1792-1842), who was the chosen frame-maker for numerous English exhibiting societies, as well as important individual artists. E.g. National Portrait Gallery, National Gallery, J.M.W. Turner, etc. | The Subject/Sitter of this impressive portrait is also identified on a brass plaque attached to front lower portion of the frame | Dimensions: 53.5" W X 63.5" H X 4.5" D (5.3 ft. tall x 4.5 ft. wide).

Provenance: Bears label on verso for George Foord (c.1792-1842), 52 Wardour St., Soho, (London, England), placing the framing date at 1826-1828; Previously auctioned by Sotheby's (bears label on verso).

About the Subject: Rev. Charles Digby served for 33 years (1808 - 1841) until his death as the important Canon of St. GeorgeÂ’s Chapel, located inside Windsor Castle. St GeorgeÂ’s Chapel has historically been the place of worship for nobility at Windsor Castle in England, United Kingdom. It is both a royal peculiar and the chapel of the Order of the Garter. The chapel is governed by the Dean and Canons of Windsor. The chapel is located in the Lower Ward of the castle, which is now one of the principal residences of Queen Elizabeth II. St. Georges Chapel is the burial place of most of EnglandÂ’s Kings and Queens from 1350 to the 20th Century. Among them is Kings Edward III (who founded the Order of the Garter and installing the Cross of Gneth – said to be a piece of Christs Cross), Edward IV, Edward V, Henry VI, Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Jane Seymour, the executed King Charles I, Queen Charlotte, George III, George IV, William IV, George V, George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Edward VII. Also interned at the chapel are numerous other members of royalty including Princes, Princesses, Barons, Earls and Dukes.

Notes: Rev. Charles Digby was educated at St Mary Hall, Oxford where he graduated BA in 1798 and MA in 1801. He was appointed: Rector of Middle Chinnock, Somerset 1807, Rector of Chisleborough with West Chinnock 1807, Rector of Bishops Caundle, Dorset 1810, and finally appointed to the second stall in St GeorgeÂ’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in 1808, holding such position until 1841 at his death. Reverend Charles Digby was of royal blood, his great-grandfather being William Digby, 5th Baron Digby of Geashill, and a direct descendant of Sir Knight Robert Digby, an M.P. of Parliament in 1613. Charles Digby was the Canon of Widsor, See Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke’s Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burkes Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. Rev. Charles Digby Married Mary Somerville, daughter of Lt. Colonel Honorable Hugh Somerville and Mary Digby, direct descendant of Edward III, King of England. Marquis Ruvigny, Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal, being a complete table of all the descendants now living of Edward III, King of England: Essex Volume (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1907), page 53. Hereinafter cited as Plantagenet Roll of the Blood Royal: Essex.

63.5 x 53.5 x 4.5 in