https://williamdobson.com/research/ 'The most excellent painter that England hath yet bred' - John Aubrey Fri, 09 May 2025 11:41:15 +0000 hourly 1 https://williamdobson.com/research/#comment-18 Wed, 26 Mar 2014 12:33:22 +0000 http://www.williamdobson.com/os/?page_id=11#comment-18 […] Unlike other Dobson’s, the symbolism is not particularly obvious which would normally give a clue as to the sitter. Januszczak read the column wrapped with vine as a visual representation of “Pleasure reconciled to Virtue”, a concept linked to Cavendish through the decoration of his retreat Bolsover Castle. The vine represents wine and by extension Pleasure, while the column is steadfastness or Virtue, but they are intertwined so as to be reconciled. This notion comes from a masque by Ben Jonson, for whom Cavendish was a great patron. A wider discussion of  Januszczak’s thoughts on our painting – and on Dobson himself – can be found here: http://www.williamdobson.com/research/ […]

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