Mary Curzon, Countess of Dorset (1585 -1645)
attributed to William Hamilton RA (Chelsea 1751 - London 1801)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1790
Materials
Oil on panel
Measurements
279 x 216 mm (11 x 8 1/2 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire
NT 109117
Summary
Oil painting on panel, Mary Curzon, Countess of Dorset (c.1586 - 1645), attributed to William Hamilton RA (Chelsea 1751 - London 1801), circa 1790. A bust-length painted oval portrait of a young woman, turned slightly to left, gazing at spectator, wearing dark dress with aglet decoration at top of left sleeve, white ruff and looped pearl necklace, winged cap decorated with jewels, with identifying inscription: 'Mary Curzon/Countess of Dorset' on upper left, in the style of English School, 17th century. Yet, the lack of any resemblance to KED/P/36 suggests that the 18th century inscription may have been an attempt to ‘baptise’ an anonymous 17th-century portrait, when no likeness of her was known.
Provenance
On loan from the Curzon family before purchase by the National Trust from the Hon. James Curzon in March 2008.
Credit line
Kedleston Hall, The Scarsdale Collection (acquired with the help of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1987)
Makers and roles
attributed to William Hamilton RA (Chelsea 1751 - London 1801), artist previously catalogued as attributed to British (English) School, artist