Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649-1734)
manner of Simon Pietersz Verelst (The Hague 1644 - London 1721)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1700
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
933 x 813 x 48 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Chirk Castle, Wrexham
NT 1171132
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Louise Renée de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649 – Paris 1734), manner of Simon Verelst (The Hague 1644 - London 1710 or 1721), 18th century. A painted oval half-length portrait of the Duchess of Portsmouth, almost facing, in gold dress with blue-lined ermine and a pearl necklace. Louise de Kérouaille was maid of honour to Henrietta, sister of Charles II, in 1670 and shortly afterwards became the King's mistress, and created Duchess in 1673. Previously catalogued as 'manner of Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723)' after the full-length by Kneller at Goodwood. The handling is closer to Simon Verelst, who, having relocated to London in 1669, was a court painter and produced several portraits of the King's mistresses (notably, of Kérouaille, see Louvre, INV 1927 ; MR 1962, painted in 1675 and Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 402652).
Provenance
Previously amongst the chattels that, in 1978, were acquired along with Chirk Castle from Lt-Col Ririd Myddelton (1902–1988) by the National Land Fund and handed, on loan for 99 years, to the Secretary of State for Wales. In 1981 Chirk was transferred into the ownership of the National Trust. Chattels from the estate of Lady Margaret Myddelton (1910 - 2003) were accepted in lieu by HM Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2006.
Credit line
Chirk Castle, The Myddelton Collection (accepted in lieu by HM Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2006)
Marks and inscriptions
Verso: Label on back, inscribed: Saloon No.25 Verso: Later label on back, inscribed: Lower Dining Room No.1 with addition in pencil: Sir William Myddelton B
Makers and roles
manner of Simon Pietersz Verelst (The Hague 1644 - London 1721), artist previously catalogued as manner of Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist previously catalogued as attributed to John Riley (London 1646 – London 1691), artist
References
Chirk Castle 2001 Timothy Sammons Ltd, London, Inventory and Valuation of selected chattels at Chirk Castle. Offered by private treaty to the National Trust, 2001, p. 23, no.351