John Lambert, Parliamentary General Wall Art

Born in 1599, the work of the remarkable English portrait painter Robert Walker began, who became famous for his masterful depictions of the "Lord Protector" Oliver Cromwell and other distinguished parliamentarians of his era. Walker's art, which was clearly under the influence of van Dyck , can be admired in numerous exhibitions at the National Portrait Gallery in London. From 1649 to 1660, Walker held the prestigious position of principal painter to the Parliamentary Party during the Commonwealth of England. Details about his early years remain shrouded in the mists of history. Despite being heavily inspired by Van Dyck, his painting style is distinguished by a distinctive style that precludes direct discipleship under Van Dyck. His contributions to portraiture, however, are undeniable. Our current understanding of Cromwell's appearance is based primarily on Walker's paintings, supplemented by portraits from Samuel Cooper and Peter Lely .