William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1806 - 1809
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1400 x 1090 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire
NT 1129268
Caption
The sitter was the son of William, 5th Duke of Devonshire, and Lady Georgiana Spencer. His chief distinction in public life was the magnificence of his Embassy to St Petersburg at the coronation of Czar Nicholas in 1826. He was known as the ‘Ambassador Duke.’ This portrait was probably painted shortly before he succeeded to the dukedom in 1811, since the dog's collar is inscribed with his courtesy title as heir: Lord Hartin[gton].
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, William Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire (1790-1858), British (English) School, Sir Martin Archer Shee, PRA (Dublin 1769 – Brighton 1850), circa 1806/9. A three-quarter-length porrait, facing half right, wearing a dark grey coat with fur collar, his right hand on his hip; a dog, left, with collar inscribed 'Lord Hartin(gton)'. He was styled Lord Hartington before he succeeded in 1811 so the inscription on the dog's caollar refers to this
Provenance
In Lady Louisa Cavendish 1860 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)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist possibly Sir Martin Archer Shee (Dublin 1769 - Brighton 1850), artist previously catalogued as attributed to John Jackson, RA (Lastingham, Yorks 1778 – London 1831), artist