Henrietta Hobart, The Hon. Mrs Howard, later Countess of Suffolk (c.1688-1767)
Thomas Gibson (c.1680 - London 1751)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1720
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
2355 x 1465 mm
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Blickling Hall, Norfolk
NT 355490
Caption
The sitter was the daughter of Sir Henry Hobart, 4th Bt., of Blickling, and was the wife of Charles Howard, Earl of Suffolk. Around 1720 she became the mistress of the Prince of Wales, which is when this portrait was probably painted. It is clear from the picture’s frame that it once formed part of the set (chiefly painted by Aikman) of Lord Hobart’s relations, friends, and political cronies in the North Gallery at Blickling. As the person who obtained his peerage and other advancement, his sister was clearly particularly appropriate to hang there. She is shown wearing a masquerade costume, which was a form of fancy dress. The portrait was previously attributed to Kneller.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas. Henrietta Hobart, The Hon. Howard, later Countess of Suffolk (c.1688-1767) by Thomas Gibson (c.1680 – London 1751), circa 1720. A full-length portrait standing she wears a pink and silver masquerade dress, with a silvery muslin apron, holding a black domino mask in right hand. Shoes and hat are both pink and silver. Architectural background.
Provenance
Bequeathed with the hall and contents by Philip,11th Marquess of Lothian (1882-1940)
Credit line
Blickling Hall, The Lothian Collection (National Trust)
Makers and roles
Thomas Gibson (c.1680 - London 1751), artist