An Unknown Widow, probably Dame Edith Phelips (1662 - 1728), holding a book inscribed 'Dame Bridget Phelips, 1670'
John Vanderbank the younger (London 1694 - London 1739)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1725 - 1735
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1170 x 890 mm (46 x 35 in)
Order this imageCollection
Montacute House, Somerset
NT 597912
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, An Unknown Widow, probably Dame Edith Phelips (1662 - 1728), widow of Edward Phelips III, holding a book inscribed 'Dame Bridget Phelips, 1670' by John Vanderbank the younger (London 1694 - London 1739), circa 1720-28. The book is inscribed with the name Dame Bridget Phelips and the date 1670. However, the portrait is clearly of a much later date so the book presumably refers to her husband's grandmother Bridget Gorges (1584 - c1634), wife of Sir Robert Phelips (1586 - 1638). A portrait of an elderly lady, three-quarter length, seated, turned slightly to the left, gazing to the left, wearing a widow's black dress and white hood with long white bands under a black hood; in her right hand she holds a red covered book on her lap, her left arm resting on the arm of a high-backed gilt chair padded with green velvet her left hand rests on her right breast. Edith Blake was the niece and heiress of Admiral Blake. She married Sir Edward Phelips III and they had three daughters, Ann, Elizabeth and Edith. She spent the 29 years of her widowhood managing the Montacute estate. Bridget Gorges was the daughter of Sir Thomas Gorges (1536 - 1610) of Longford Castle and his wife, Helena Snakenborg and married Sir Robert Phelips in 1602.
Provenance
On loan from the Phelips family since 1931; purchased with the aid of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the V&A Museums and Galleries Commission Purchase Grant Fund in 1989.
Credit line
Montacute House, The Phelips Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Inscribed on red bound book held in lap of sitterDAME BRIDGET PHELIPS / 1670 Recto: Gilt tablet affixed to bottom of frame inscribed:
Makers and roles
John Vanderbank the younger (London 1694 - London 1739), publisher
References
Montacute House, Somerset, 1976 [The National Trust; Dudley Dodd] 1976, THE PASSAGEWAY Paintings West Wall ?Bridget Phelips, English, c.1750. Incorrectly inscribd with the date '1670'." Montacute House, Somerset, 1991 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, p.57 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE WEST (LEFT HAND) WALL: (?) Bridget Phelips, Lady Napier (1707-58) Inscribed on the book which she holds with the name 'Dame Bridget Phelips' and the date 1670. However, the portrait is clearly of much later date. Attributed to John Vanderbank (1694-1739), c.1720-30.". Montacute House, Somerset, 1997 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 1991, revised 1997 , p.57 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE WEST (LEFT HAND) WALL: (?) Bridget Phelips, Lady Napier (1707-58) Inscribed on the book which she holds with the name 'Dame Bridget Phelips' and the date 1670. However, the portrait is clearly of much later date. Attributed to John Vanderbank (1694-1739), c.1720-30.". Montacute House, Somerset, 2004-2006 [The National Trust; Malcolm Rogers] 2000, revised 2004, reprinted 2005, 2006, p.45 "THE PARLOUR PASSAGE WEST (LEFT HAND) WALL: (?) Bridget Phelips, Lady Napier (1707-58) Inscribed on the book which she holds with the name 'Dame Bridget Phelips' and the date 1670. However, the portrait is clearly of much later date. Attributed to John Vanderbank (1694-1739), c.1720-30.".