ENGLISH SCHOOL

ENGLISH SCHOOL, 17TH CENTURY PORTRAIT OF A JUDGE TRADITIONALLY IDENTIFIED AS SIR WILLIAM DOLBEN seated three quarter length in scarlet robes by a sculpture of Justice in a niche to his left, oil on canvas, 125 x 100cm, in gilt panel frameSir William Dolben (c1627-1694) a Justice of the King's Bench was called to the Bar in 1655. He was appointed Recorder of London in 1676 and knighted the following year. After the Popish Plot (1678-1681) he tried many of the accused, subsequently incurred the displeasure of Charles II through his opposition to the King's removal of the City Corporation's Writs, and was dismissed in 1683. There is a portrait of Dolben by Henry Tilson in Guildhall Art Gallery.