Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
- Artist: Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
- Date: circa 1703
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 36 in. x 28 in. (914 mm x 711 mm)
- Portrays: Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
Before you is an oil on canvas portrait by Sir Godfrey Kneller, painted around 1703. The canvas measures roughly 36 inches by 28 inches – a modest size that invites close inspection. In the painting, Charles Seymour, the 6th Duke of Somerset (1662‑1748), appears in formal attire, his face set in a calm pose that suggests the stature he held as Lord President of the Council and Master of the Horse. Kneller’s brushwork shows a careful rendering of textures: the satin of the dress, the subtle shadow under the brow, and the soft glow of the background. This piece was given to the gallery by the Art Fund in 1945, and it sits comfortably within their primary collection.
See it in person
Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
