Rhoda Apreece, Mrs Francis Blake Delaval (m.1724; d.1759)
possibly Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1735
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
2362 x 1295 mm (93 x 51 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276768
Caption
The sitter, as labelled, would have been the mother of Rhoda Apreece (d.1759), who married Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 – 1752) in 1724. But the dating of this picture, and her physical attributes suggest that she may be Rhoda herself. The prime version of this picture, correctly identified, is at Doddington. Daughter of Robert Apreece and Sarah Hussey, she married Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 – 1752) in 1724. The Husseys lived at Doddington, to which she was heir, a hall built by Thomas Tailor, Registrar to the Bishop of Lincoln in 1600, and designed by Robert Smythson. Rhoda inherited the house from Sir Thomas Hussey of Doddington, her maternal grandfather, in 1749. She and Sir Francis did not move into Delaval Hall, which had not yet been completed by Sir George, until 1728. Her unruly brood of children became unknown as the ‘Gay Delavals’, renowned for their exuberant lifestyle and theatrical productions.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Rhoda Apreece, Mrs. Francis Blake Delaval (m.1724; d.1759), ? Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758), after Jeremiah Davison (England c.1695 - London 1745) & Joseph Van Aken (?Antwerp c.1699 - London 1749), circa 1735. Full-length, seated, wearing a silver satin dress with a brown bodice, and an ermine-lined blue cape, with a pillar and red curtains behind.
Full description
The sitter, as labelled, would have been the mother of Rhoda Apreece (d.1759), who married Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 – 1752) in 1724, but the portrait is of a later date, and the original at Doddington is identified as of Rhoda Apreece herself. As heiress to Doddington, Rhoda Apreece’s portrait there is unlikely to have been misidentified. Rhoda was the daughter of Robert Apreece and Sarah Hussey, she married Captain Francis Blake Delaval (1692 – 1752) at St. Anne’s church, Westminster, in August 1724. The Husseys lived at Doddington, to which she was heir, a hall built by Thomas Tailor, Registrar to the Bishop of Lincoln in 1600 and designed by Robert Smythson. The Hall passed to the Hussey family by marriage, when the Tailor line died out. The Husseys were penalised by Cromwell for their Royalist support, and were considerably impoverished, such that the house was neglected until 1760, when Sir John Delaval restored it. Rhoda inherited the house from Sir Thomas Hussey of Doddington, her maternal grandfather, in 1749. She and Sir Francis did not move into Delaval Hall, which had not yet been completed by Sir George, until 1728. Accommodating their twelve children (eight sons and four daughters) into a house designed for a bachelor Admiral, was difficult, and some of them were sent to stay with relatives in other Delaval houses at Dissington and Ford. The unruly brood became unknown as the ‘Gay Delavals’, renowned for their exuberant lifestyle and theatrical productions. Anthony Mould has suggested that this ‘blunt, soapy hand’ might be Pieter van Bleeck (The Hague 1697 – London 1764) - after a Verelst? This is possible, given the similar, waxy execution of the Portrait of Mary Bartholomew (1726 – 1778), sold Sotheby’s, 8th June, 2007, lot 291 (50 x 40 ins.). But did he paint for the right sort of milieu? – possibly, given his theatrical sitters. It seems more reasonable, however, to treat this as a copy by Pond of a glossier original at Doddington. That seems too conventional to associate with Highmore, and strongly suggests the assistance of a drapery painter in the dress. Is it not then by the same combination of artists as that of her two eldest children (1276690), and executed around the same time? But it is far from sure that in either – let alone both – case or cases, that the first artist is Davison. (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
Frame tablet: SARAH, daughter of Sir Thomas Hussey, Bart. of Doddington / Wife of Robert Apreece of Washingley, and mother of / Rhoda, wife of Capt. Francis Blake Delaval, R.N. / J. HIGHMORE.
Makers and roles
possibly Arthur Pond (London 1701 – Rome 1758), artist