Lady Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Devonshire (1619-1689)
after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1640
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1202 x 940 mm (47 1/3 x 37 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1129116
Caption
This portrait is a late copy of the original at Petworth, and is wrongly inscribed with the name of the wife of the 2nd Earl of Devonshire. Lady Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Devonshire was the second daughter of Wiliam Cecil, 2nd Earl of Salisbury. She married in 1638/9, William Cavendish, 3rd Earl of Devonshire (1617-1684). Their daughter, Ann Cavendish, married John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter, and their son William Cavendish became 4th Earl and 1st Duke of Devonshire (1640-1707).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Lady Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Devonshire (1619-1689), after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641). A three-quarter length portrait, turned slightly to the left, gazing at spectator, dressed in white satin, trimmed with blue ribbon, a rose held in her right hand.
Provenance
Swift Hardwick Inventory 1811; and thence by descent until, following the death of Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (1895 - 1950), Hardwick Hall and its contents were accepted by HM Treasury in part payment of death duties and transferred to the National Trust, in 1959
Marks and inscriptions
top right in an 18th century script Christian Countess of Devonshire/Daughter of Lord Bruce of Kinloss in Scotland/and Wife to the 2nd Earl of Devonshire/Obiit 1674.
Makers and roles
after Sir Anthony Van Dyck (Antwerp 1599 - London 1641), artist