Sir Joshua Vanneck and His Family

This painting depicts the Vanneck family on their estate outside London along the Thames. Arthur Devis specialized in "conversation pieces," group portraits which were meant to appear more natural than formal portraiture. Sir Joshua Vanneck, a wealthy merchant, is shown at the left, with him are his six children, his two sons-in-law, and his sister. (Vanneck’s wife died two years prior to the date of this painting.) Their pride in their material success—property, learning, and finery—is beautifully captured by Devis.