John Closterman

Born in Osnabrück in the Holy Roman Empire (now in Lower Saxony), Closterman was the son of an artist who taught him the rudiments of design.^[1]

In 1679, Closterman went to Paris and worked under François de Troy. In 1681, he went to England. He worked for John Riley, painting the draperies in Riley's portraits

When Riley died in 1691, Closterman finished several of his portraits. Because of his work on Riley's portraits, Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset, hired him to create some paintings. However, Somerset became dissatisfied with a portrait of the Italian painter Guercino that Closterman had painted for him, ending the relationship. Lord Halifax eventually purchased the portrait.

In 1696, Closterman was invited to the court of Spain, where he painted a portrait of Charles II of Spain, his wife, Mariana of Austria and some others. He also travelled to Italy twice, where he bought several artworks. When he returned to England, Closterman found a high demand for his services among the social elite.

At this time, he married an Englishwoman, Hannah; she died and was buried on 27 January 1702.^[2] According to Arnold Houbraken, Closterman later took a mistress who stole much of his property and then left him. Her departure allegedly precipitated Closterman's physical and mental decline.^[3] Jacob Campo Weyerman, who took much of his biographical material from Houbraken, states "Closterman had taken a beautiful mistress who, while he was away in the country, robbed him of his valuables and disappeared, actions which drove the painter into madness".^[2]

Closterman died in 1711 and was buried in Covent Garden churchyard in London.^[2]

 

 

In 1702, Closterman painted a whole-length portrait of Anne, Queen of Great Britain in her coronation robes, wearing a crown, and carrying the orb and sceptre. The Queen Anne portrait was originally exhibited in the Guildhall in London. The portrait has disappeared, but a study is part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London.

Closterman also painted a family portrait of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough and his wife, Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, with their five children: John Churchill, Marquess of Blandford, Henrietta Godolphin, 2nd Duchess of Marlborough, Lady Ann, Lady Elizabeth, and Lady Mary Churchill.

In the Churchill portrait, the family is assembled beneath a rich hanging curtain on a raised dais; all the figures are lifesize. Closterman probably painted the portrait around the beginning of 1698. Closterman supposedly had so many disputes with Sarah Churchill that her husband remarked, "It has given me more trouble to reconcile my wife and you than to fight a battle". The story is told by Horace Walpole.^[4]

The Churchill portrait is now part of the collection at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire.

For many years John Closterman and his artist brother John Baptist Closterman have been conflated in biographies, such as those in the Dictionary of National Biography and the Encyclopedia Britannica. An article by J. D. Stewart in The Burlington Magazine sets the record straight, citing John Closterman's will, which left part of his estate to "my Deare and Loveing Brother John Baptist".^[5]

•   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Closterman, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

• 64 artworks by or after John Closterman at the Art UK site
•   Media related to John Closterman at Wikimedia Commons
• John and John Baptist Closterman: french website