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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 image

Collection

Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland

NT 1276704

Caption

Rhoda Delaval was the oldest of the generation who became infamous as ‘The Gay Delavals’ of Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland. While her younger siblings established reputations for lavish theatrical antics, Rhoda channelled her creative energies into becoming an accomplished artist. In February 1744 she began lessons with her family’s favoured portraitist Arthur Pond, who had his studio in London. Throughout the spring and summer months until 1750, Delaval paid Pond a monthly fee of four guineas (the equivalent of around £750 today) for her instruction, plus occasional extras for materials. It was one of the few ways a woman of Delaval’s generation could access professional training. Delaval found her family to be convenient and interesting models, and a number of the works attributed to her are portraits of siblings. One of the most notable is a self-portrait with her brother Francis. In it she portrays herself as ‘Painting’ and Francis, the lively theatre-lover two years her junior, is cast in the role of ‘Poetry’. In 1751 Delaval’s marriage to Edward Astley gave her access to that family’s art collections, enabling her to copy a portrait of their famous ancestor, the Civil War commander Jacob Astley. While such copying was a way of honing technique, it also took skill to achieve convincingly. Delaval’s undoubted talent, her close association with Pond and the lower status traditionally granted to ‘amateur’ endeavour have conspired to limit our understanding of her art. At least six substantial paintings are either attributed to Delaval or could be, if subjected to deeper study. Are there more, perhaps overlooked as the work of either her teacher or another professional? For over a decade Delaval painted intimate glimpses of her family, yet we still understand her best from the chatty, easy-going letters she wrote to her sister-in-law. She died in 1757, at just 32 years old, leaving us a tantalising artistic legacy to explore.

Summary

Oil painting on canvas, 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

References

Conroy, Rachel, Women Artists and Designers at the National Trust, 2025, pp. 60-63

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