Sir Edward Astley, 4th Baronet Astley of Hill Morton (1729-1802)
Benjamin West (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 1738 - London 1820)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1773 (inscribed and dated)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1245 x 991 mm (49 x 39 in)
Order this imageCollection
Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
NT 1276780
Caption
Sir Edward Astley is shown wearing the badge and gold sword of the Order of Gregorians. The Gregorians were a social club, similar to the Freemasons. They commissioned the portrait, which became the property of the Astley family when the society ceased to exist at the end of the eighteenth century. Sir Edward was MP for Norfolk. His first wife was Rhoda Delaval, and when she died in childbirth Seaton Delaval passed to his descendants. He married again twice.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Sir Edward Astley, 4th Baronet Astley of Hill Morton (1729-1802) by Benjamin West PRA (Swarthmore 1738 - London 1820), inscribed, middle left: Painted by B. West. / 1773. Three-quarter length, seated, wearing a fine green, silk suit and the ribbon and badge of The Gregorians of Norwich.
Full description
Oldest son of Sir Jacob Astley, 3rd Bt. (1692 – 1760) and Lucy Le Strange (1699 – 1739), youngest daughter of Sir Nicholas Le Strange, 4th Bt. He succeeded to the title in 1760, and in 1768 he stood successfully as M.P. for Norfolk, a position that he held until 1790. He married Rhoda Delaval (1725 – 1757) in 1751, but who died in childbirth, having borne him three sons and a daughter. By her, he was bequeathed Seaton Delaval. He married, secondly, Anne Milles in 1759 (d.1793), who bore him five sons and two daughters; and thirdly, Elizabeth Bullen in 1793 (d.1810), who bore him no issue. He died aged 72. The sitter is shown wearing the badge and gold sword of the Order of Gregorians (a social club, similar to the Freemasons, that met every Monday evening at the White Swan in Norwich), which commissioned the portrait. The portrait became the property of the Astley family when the society ceased to exist at the end of the eighteenth century.
Provenance
In the possession of the Order of Gregorians, Norwich, by 1771; presented by the Order to the family of the sitter in the last decade of the eighteenth century; thence by descent; accepted in lieu of tax by H.M.Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: SIR EDWARD ASTLEY 4TH BART. / B.1729 – D 1802 / B. WEST
Makers and roles
Benjamin West (Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 1738 - London 1820), artist