Q.
Bloomsbury.
Sir John Vanbrugh (Vol. viii., pp. 65. 160.).—Previous to sending you my Query about the birthplace of Sir John Vanbrugh, I had carefully gone through the Registers of the Holy Trinity parish, Chester, and had discovered the baptisms or burials of seven sons and six daughters of Mr. Giles Vanbrugh duly registered therein. Sir John's name is not included in the list; therefore, if he was born in Chester, his baptism must have been registered at one of the many other parish churches of this city. The registers of St. Peter's Church, a neighbouring parish, have also been
examined, but contain no notice of the baptism of the future knight. I will, however, continue the chace; and should I eventually fall in with the object of my search, will give my fellow-labourers the benefit of my explorations. Mr. Vanbrugh sen. died at Chester, and was buried with several of his children at Trinity Church, July 19, 1689.
T. Hughes.
Chester.
Portrait of Charles I.—The portrait of Charles I. by Vandyke (the subject of Mr. Breen's Query, "N. & Q.," Vol. viii., p. 151.) is no less than the celebrated picture in which the monarch is represented standing, with his right hand resting on a walking cane, and his left (the arm being beautifully foreshortened) against his hip; and immediately behind him his horse is held by an equerry, supposed to be the Marquis of Hamilton. The picture hangs in the great square room at the Louvre, close on the left hand of the usual entrance door, and is undoubtedly one of the finest in that magnificent collection. As a portrait, it is without a rival. It is well known in this country by the admirable engraving from it, executed in 1782, by Sir Robert Strange.
The description of this picture in the Catalogue for 1852 du Musée Nationale du Louvre, is as follows:—
"Gravé par Strange; par Bonnefoy; par Duparc;—Filhol, t. 1. pl. 5.
"Collection de Louis XV.—Ce tableau, qui a été exécuté vers 1635, ne fut payé à van Dyck que 100 livres sterling. En 1754, il faisait partie, suivant Descamps, du cabinet du marquis de Lassay. On trouve cette note dans les mémoires secrets de Bachaument," &c.
Then follows the passage quoted by Mr. Breen. I can find no mention of a Dubarry among the ancestors of the monarch.