Rhoda Delaval, Lady Astley (1725 - 1757)
Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1750
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
762 x 635 mm (30 x 25 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276704
Caption
Rhoda Delaval was the eldest daughter of Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 - 1752) and Rhoda Apreece (d.1759), daughter of Robert Apreece and Sarah Hussey. Her marriage in 1751 to Edward Astley, later 4th Bt. (1729 – 1802) of Melton Constable, ultimately brought Seaton Delaval into the Astley family. Rhoda died in childbirth, having borne him three sons and a daughter. She was a talented artist, taught by Arthur Pond, who had been brought to Seaton Delaval by her father. A portrait, also by Pond, at the National Portrait Gallery, shows her sketching in pastels. She left various letters dating to the years after her marriage, which provide insight into eighteenth century society life in Northumberland, describing relationships, medical conditions, and the lottery.
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Rhoda Delaval, Lady Astley (1725 - 1757) by Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758), 1750; formerly inscribed with the identity of the sitter (in flowing white script, painted out), at top. Half-length portrait, wearing a laced dress with flowers in her bodice, a straw hat, and holding an open book.
Full description
Eldest daughter of Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 - 1752) and Rhoda Apreece (d.1759), daughter of Robert Apreece and Sarah Hussey. Her marriage in 1751 to Edward Astley, later 4th Bt. (1729 – 1802) of Melton Constable, ultimately brought Seaton Delaval into the Astley family. Rhoda died in childbirth, having borne him three sons and a daughter. On her death, her husband went to live with his children at Melton Constable. Their son, Jacob (1756 – 1817) inherited the Delaval estates in 1814. She was a talented artist, taught by Pond, who had been brought to Seaton Delaval by her father. Pond’s journal records lessons in painting given to ‘Miss Delaval’ [i.e. the eldest daughter, Rhoda] a month at a time, intermittently between February 1744 and June 1750, at 4 guineas (£4.4s.) a month. He also obtained a ‘Layman’ for her from a joiner, Morris, in June 1750, for £3.8s. (Lippincott, art.cit., passim). This would appear to have been the picture for which Pond charged 12 guineas (£12.12s.) in June 1750 (cf. Louise Lippincott, ‘Arthur Pond’s Journal of Receipts and Expenses, 1734-1750’, The Fifty-fourth Volume of the Walpole Society: 1988, [1991], p.314. Rhoda left various letters dating to the years after her marriage, which provide insight into C18th society life in Northumberland (see M.Green, The Delavals. A Family History, Newcastle, p.44 ff.). (Amanda Bradley)
Provenance
Accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009
Credit line
Seaton Delaval, The Hastings Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Top: formerly inscribed with the identity of the sitter (in flowing white script, painted out): Rhoda Delaval wife of / [crossed out: William ...] Edward Astley Frame tablet: RHODA, daughter of F.B. Delaval / and first wife of / Sir Edward Astley 4th Bart. / A.POND.
Makers and roles
Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758), artist