Sir Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading (1579-1652)
Rhoda Delaval, Lady Astley (1725 - 1757)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1745 - 1757
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
737 x 610 mm (29 x 24 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276692
Caption
Rhoda Delaval was the oldest of the generation who became infamous as ‘The Gay Delavals’ of Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland. While her younger siblings established reputations for lavish theatrical antics, Rhoda channelled her creative energies into becoming an accomplished artist. In February 1744 she began lessons with her family’s favoured portraitist Arthur Pond, who had his studio in London. Throughout the spring and summer months until 1750, Delaval paid Pond a monthly fee of four guineas (the equivalent of around £750 today) for her instruction, plus occasional extras for materials. It was one of the few ways a woman of Delaval’s generation could access professional training. Delaval found her family to be convenient and interesting models, and a number of the works attributed to her are portraits of siblings. One of the most notable is a self-portrait with her brother Francis. In it she portrays herself as ‘Painting’ and Francis, the lively theatre-lover two years her junior, is cast in the role of ‘Poetry’. In 1751 Delaval’s marriage to Edward Astley gave her access to that family’s art collections, enabling her to copy a portrait of their famous ancestor, the Civil War commander Jacob Astley. While such copying was a way of honing technique, it also took skill to achieve convincingly. Delaval’s undoubted talent, her close association with Pond and the lower status traditionally granted to ‘amateur’ endeavour have conspired to limit our understanding of her art. At least six substantial paintings are either attributed to Delaval or could be, if subjected to deeper study. Are there more, perhaps overlooked as the work of either her teacher or another professional? For over a decade Delaval painted intimate glimpses of her family, yet we still understand her best from the chatty, easy-going letters she wrote to her sister-in-law. She died in 1757, at just 32 years old, leaving us a tantalising artistic legacy to explore.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Jacob Astley, 1st Baron Astley of Reading (1579 - 1652) by Rhoda Delaval, Lady Astley (1725 - 1757), after a 17th century original. Half-length, facing, turned left, wearing armour, with his left hand on the hilt of his sword; landscape beyond.
Full description
The eighth child of Isaac Astley (1540 – 1598) of Melton Constable and Mary Waldegrave (1579 – 1645), daughter of Edward Waldegrave of Lawford, Essex. He began his military career as a teenager when he volunteered to join Sir Walter Raleigh’s 1597 Azores expedition, but then sought employment as a mercenary in Europe, serving at significant battles such as Nieuport in 1600 and eventually marrying a Dutch heiress, Agnes Impel, daughter of Henry Impel (see her portrait, also in the Old Kitchen). During his stay in Holland he gained favour at the exiled court of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen and daughter of James I. She referred to him as ‘honest little Jacob’ (he was born short) and is thought to have engaged him as a tutor to her son Prince Rupert in military matters. He returned to England in the 1630s to take an infantry command under Charles I during the war against Scotland. At the outbreak of Civil War in 1642, he was appointed principle infantry commander to Charles I. On the eve of the Battle of Edgehill in 1642 he delivered the famous prayer: ‘O Lord! Thou knowest how busy I must be this day; if I forget thee, do not thou forget me … March on, boys!’ The leather surcoat (with brocade strips) that he wore at Edgehill survives at Seaton Delaval. His importance to the Royalist forces increased throughout the war and he was appointed, amongst other posts, governor of Oxford and a leading member of the Kings Council of War. Astley also saw action at Reading, Gloucester and Lostwithiel, but his infantry were forced to surrender during the final major battle of the war in 1645 at Naseby. Astley escaped, only to be defeated again at Stow-in-the-Wold in 1646, whilst en route to the besieged King at Oxford. He was created Baron Astley of Reading in 1644, and was borne three issue: two sons and one daughter. The Baronetcy became extinct in 1668 on the death of his grandson, who died without issue.
Provenance
accepted in lieu of tax by H.M. Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009.
Credit line
Seaton Delaval, The Hastings Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
In yello, mid-right (after the original): Aetat: 61 / Anno Do [m] / 1640
Makers and roles
Rhoda Delaval, Lady Astley (1725 - 1757), artist
References
Conroy, Rachel, Women Artists and Designers at the National Trust, 2025, pp. 60-63