Rokeby Venus created National Art Collections Fund, its first campaigning triumph. King Edward VII greatly admired the painting, and anonymously provided £8,000 (£ in 2019) towards its purchase, and became Patron of the Fund thereafter. In part because he was overlooked until the mid-19th century, Velázquez found no followers and was not widely imitated. In particular, his visual and structural innovations in this portrayal of Venus were not developed by other artists until recently, largely owing to the censorship of the work. The painting remained in a series of private rooms in private collections until it was exhibited in 1857 at the
Thomas de Rokeby in 1407 and again in 1411. During his first term as High Sheriff Henry Percy, 1st Earl of Northumberland marched into Yorkshire against Henry IV of England and was stopped at Knaresborough by Thomas de Rokeby and a local levy. The two factions met again at the Battle of Bramham Moor where Rokeby was victorious and Percy killed. A grateful king awarded Rokeby the manor of Spofforth, previously the property of the Percys. He later served in the army of Henry V of England in France. He fought at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, was present throughout most of