Anna Maria Astley (c.1760 -1768), as a girl
Francis Cotes (London 1726 - London 1770)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1768
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
762 x 610 mm (30 x 24 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276718
Caption
The full –length double portrait, of which this is a reduced version, showing Anna Maria with her brother, Edward, is in the Tate. Anna Maria was the daughter of Edward Astley, 4th Bt. and his second wife, Anne Milles (d. 11 July 1792), daughter of Christopher Milles of Nackington, Kent. There is no record of Anna Maria’s birth or baptism at Melton Constable, where the family lived, but the inscription on the Tate picture (incised on an ornamental urn) states that in 1767 she was seven years old. The Tate picture was probably commissioned by the sitter’s maternal grandfather, but this version must have been commissioned by her father (whose portrait by Cotes also hangs at Seaton Delaval). It seems probable that it was painted after her death, so that his own household should have a portrait of her.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Anna Maria Astley (c.1760 - 1768), as a girl, by Francis Cotes, RA (London 1726 - London 1770), circa 1768. Half-length portrait, standing, facing, wearing a white dress gathered up in her arms, and a ruffled bonnet on her head.
Full description
The full-length double portrait (200 x 160 cm), of which this is a detail, showing Anna Maria with her brother, Edward, is in the Tate. They are shown on a classical terrace (?Melton Constable), and she waves her brother’s plumed hat above her head. It is signed and dated 1767 (Mead Johnson says 1766) [see Tate Gallery 1980 – 82. Illustrated Catalogue of Acquisitions, 1984, pp.12-13]. It was presumably commissioned by Christopher Milles, their maternal grandfather, since it passed, by descent, through the Milles family to the 4th Earl of Sondes. Moreover, the Milles family were known patrons of Cotes (cf. his portrait of Christopher’s son, Richard Milles, present whereabouts unknown [Mead Johnson, no.221, p.86]; and a Portrait of a Lady, possibly of the Milles family, whereabouts unknown [Mead Johnson, no.244, p.91]). Daughter of Edward Astley , 4th Bt (1729 – 1802) and his second wife, Anne Milles (d. 11 July 1792), daughter of Christopher Milles of Nackington, Kent and Mary, daughter of Richard Warner of Elmham Hall, Norfolk. There is no record of Anna Maria’s birth or baptism at Melton Constable, but the inscription on the Tate picture (incised on an ornamental urn, upper left) notes that in 1767 she is seven years old. Her monument, above the Astley pew in St Peter’s, Melton Constable, records her death on 29 March 1768, aged eight years and three months. She was buried four days later. Her father, Sir Edward, was described c.1780 as ‘open and affable in his manner, unaffected in his conversation and liberal in his principles’ (see Tate Catalogue, cit. supra, p.13). In the Commons he consistently supported reform, and was primarily concerned with agricultural interests. The outdoors informality of the original version would, therefore, have appealed to him. His own portrait, also by Cotes (at Seaton Delaval), must have been commissioned by himself, given the pattern of descent, as must have this reduced copy. In it, Anna Maria does not flourish her brother’s hat, but instead, both hands are tucked under her underskirt, and her own hat, tied with ribbons around her neck, are missing. It seems probable that it was painted after her death, so that his own household should have a portrait of her. (Amanda Bradley)
Provenance
Accepted in lieu of tax by HM treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009
Credit line
Seaton Delaval, The Hastings Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Frame tablet: ANNA MARIA, daughter of / Sir Edward Astley, 4th Bart. / F. COTES
Makers and roles
Francis Cotes (London 1726 - London 1770), artist
References
Johnson 1976 Edward Mead Johnson, Francis Cotes: Complete Edition with a Critical Essay and a Catalogue, Oxford, 1976