Susanna 'Suky' Trevelyan, Mrs John Hudson (1736-1779)
Thomas Gainsborough RA (Sudbury 1727 - London 1788)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1761 - circa 1776
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1257 x 1003 mm (49 1/2 x 39 1/2 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Wallington, Northumberland
NT 584337
Caption
According to a long-held family tradition this portrait by Thomas Gainsorough was altered by Sir Joshua Reynolds on a visit to Wallington. Technical analysis confirmed that the picture was indeed substantially repainted so as to transform the pose, dress and hair of the sitter, and to obscure a lap dog and large hat. While there is no evidence that Reynolds worked at Wallington, his account books reveal that his London studio was responsible for the extensive alterations, sometime between 1771 and 1776 (Grimaldi and Capadose 2011).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Susanna Trevelyan, Mrs John Hudson (1736-1779) by Thomas Thomas Gainsborough (Sudbury 1727 - London 1788) and studio of Joshua Reynolds (Plympton 1723 - 1792), label on back of lining canvas reads: Miss Suky T- 1761. A three-quarter-length portrait, turned to the right, gazing at the spectator, with long ringlets and wearing a white satin dress embroidered with gold; her right hand on her hip, her left at her side. The portrait was originally painted by Thomas Gainsborough in about 1761. It was substantially repainted in the studio of Joshua Reynolds between about 1771 and 1776 when a lapdog and large hat was painted out, and the pose, costume and hair comprehensively reworked.
Provenance
Given with the property to the National Trust in 1941 by Sir Charles Philips Trevelyan, 3rd Bt (1870 – 1958)
Credit line
Wallington, The Trevelyan Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Miss Suky T - 1761 (on back of lining canvas)
Makers and roles
Thomas Gainsborough RA (Sudbury 1727 - London 1788), artist Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792) and Studio, artist
References
Grimaldi and Capadose 2011 Nicola Grimaldi and Jeremy Capadose, '"Disrobing Suky": one mistress, but two masters? The examination of a portrait of Susanna Trevelyan', The British Art Journal, vol.12, no.3, Winter 2011-12, pp.9-19