Art and Politics: The Provenance of Phillip Lord Wharton

Authors

David Amott, Brigham Young University
Dr. Mark Magelby, Brigham Young University

Keywords

art, politics, Phillip Lord Wharton, paintings, Van Dyck

College

Fine Arts and Communications

Department

Art

Abstract

Throughout history, art has often been closely tied to politics, although not all governments and politicians have given art equal consideration. This fact is illustrated through the provenance of Sir Anthony Van Dyck’s portrait of Phillip, Lord Wharton (1632, National Gallery of Art). Since its completion, this portrait has traveled between the collections of politicians representing four major forms of government: parliamentary monarchy, autocratic monarchy, communism, and capitalism, and has acquired a history that illustrates how the visual arts have often been regarded by these forms of government. Additionally, the history of Phillip, Lord Wharton is important because it reveals the collecting habits of several nations and chronicles the foundation of two national collections as well.

Recommended Citation

Amott, David and Magelby, Dr. Mark (2014) "Art and Politics: The Provenance of Phillip Lord Wharton," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2014: Iss. 1, Article 441.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2014/iss1/441