Object Type
This painting is one of the earliest in a series of 24 allegorical paintings of tombs of the great military, political and intellectual men of British history since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. The series, entitled 'Monuments to the Remembrance of a Set of British Worthies', dates from about 1723-1730, and commemorates leading political figures of the Protestant cause.

People
Owen (Eugene) McSwiny, an Irish theatrical impresario then living in Venice (having fled Britain due to his bankruptcy), proposed the idea of the series to the Consul there, Sir Joseph Smith. McSwiny was then commissioned by Lord March, later Duke of Richmond, to organise the production of the paintings. The individual commemorated in this picture was John Somers (died 1716), Lord Chancellor of England during the joint reign of William and Mary (1689-1702). The figures were painted by G.B. Piazzetta (1683-1754), Canaletto (1697-1768) painted the architecture, and the landscape was undertaken by G.B. Cimaroli (active around 1700 to 1753). This was Canaletto's first work for an English patron. He eventually came to London in 1746, and his earlier introduction to Charles Lennox, 2nd Duke of Richmond (1701-1750), contributed greatly to his success in this country.

Historical Background
In 1688-1689 the Glorious Revolution had deposed James II because of his increasing support for Catholicism, and replaced him with the Protestants William III and Mary II and greater powers for Parliament. In the early 18th century, the struggle - both political and military - to maintain the Protestant succession under George I and George II continued. The British Worthies series of paintings was intended to bestow an aura of great solemnity and antiquity on a Parliamentary system which was in fact new.