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Biography of George Gower (active circa 1575–1600)
English portrait painter who was a grandson of Sir John Gower of Stettenham, Yorkshire. Nothing is known about his training. The portrait of Sir Thomas Kytson and the companion portrait of Lady Kytson (both 1573, Tate, London) are his earliest documented works. They show the artist’s rather stiff realism, typical of the time, and his subtle handling of textures such as silky fabrics, fur and jewels. The artist’s self-portrait of 1579 (Earl Fitzwilliam Collection) is unique in 16th century British art for its relatively large scale and the prominence given to the tools of his ‘pensils trade’, the inscription emphasizing his profession more than his noble status. The self-portrait was painted before Gower was appointed Serjeant (official) Painter to Elizabeth I in 1581. He was responsible for painted decorations at the royal residences, among these a fountain (destroyed) and an astronomical clock, both at Hampton Court. He also decorated royal coaches and furniture. A draft patent of 1584 granted Gower the monopoly over the Queen’s easel portraiture, but no undisputed example of such has survived. He was also responsible for inspecting portraits of the Queen by other artists prior to their official release.
View paintings by George Gower
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