Portrait of the John Maitland
by WRIGHT, John Michael, Oil on canvas, 127 x 102 cm
This painting represents a three quarter length portrait of John Maitland, dressed in a richly embroidered doublet with lawn collar, and holding a stick in his right hand and standing before a column draped in blue curtains.
John Maitland, 1st Duke and 2nd Earl of Lauderdale, 3rd Lord Thirlestane (1616-1682), was a Scottish politician, and leader within the Cabal Ministry. (The Cabal Ministry refers to a group of high councilors of King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to circa 1674.)
Several painted portraits of Maitland are known, he was portrayed - among others - by Cornelis Jonson van Ceulen, Sir Peter Lely, Jacob Huysmans, John Riley, Samuel Cooper and John Michael Wright. There is also a portrait medal by Jan Roettiers.