Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658)

This is one of several copies of this portrait produced in Lely’s studio, from an original most likely painted in 1653. One of the copies was given as a diplomatic gift to the Grand Duke of Tuscany, indicating that one of the purposes of this work was to project an image of strength for the new 'Lord Protector' and his country, hence Cromwell being depicted in armour.

Whilst sitting for this portrait Cromwell reputedly the artist: “Mr Lely, I desire that you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts and everything; otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it”. It may be that this was actually said to a different artist, Samuel Cooper, or given that the earliest reference to the quote was by Horace Walpole inthe 1700s, the story may be entirely apocryphal.

Today we often talk about something being ‘warts and all’, that it includes features that may not be attractive or appealing. As can be seen above, with this saying we are actually misquoting Cromwell if he really did say this!