The Hon. John Ponsonby (1713–1787)
attributed to Jeremiah Davison (c.1695 - 1745)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1743
Materials
Oil on canvas (oval)
Measurements
670 x 570 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1129196
Caption
The Hon. John Ponsonby was the second son of the 1st Earl of Bessborough, who married, in 1743, Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire (1698-1755) and Catherine Hoskins (d.1777). He was speaker of the Irish House of Commons, and entered the Irish parliament as MP for Newtown in 1739. He possessed great parliamentary influence, being eminent among the ‘Undertakers’ (the representatives of the Anglo-Irish oligarchy, who dominated its Parliament) until toppled by the Marquis of Townshend when he was Viceroy. He was dismissed from the Board of Revenue for opposition to government in 1771. He is here shown in Hussar fancy dress, popularised by the dashing performance of Hungarian cavalry at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, The Hon. John Ponsonby (1713–1787), attributed to Jeremiah Davison (Scotland c.1695 – London after 1750), circa 1743. A half-length portrait of a young man, in Hussar fancy dress, popularised by the dashing performance of Hungarian cavalry at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743, facing, head turned to left, gazing to the left, wearing scarlet Hussar's style military uniform with gold braid, fur cloak over his left shoulder and fur hat.
Provenance
In Agar-Ellis 1817 catalogue of Hardwick Hall; thence by inheritance 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
Credit line
Hardwick Hall, The Devonshire Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
top left Hon. John Ponsonby
Makers and roles
attributed to Jeremiah Davison (c.1695 - 1745), artist previously catalogued as after George Knapton (London 1698 - London 1778), artist