Miss Caroline Vernon
François-Xavier Vispré (c.1730 - London 1790)
Category
Art / Drawings and watercolours
Date
circa 1770
Materials
Pastel on paper
Measurements
600 x 450 mm (24 x 18 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 607876
Summary
Pastel on paper, a portrait of Miss Caroline Vernon by François-Xavier Vispré (c.1730 - London 1790), previously attributed to William Hoare of Bath, RA (Eye 1707 – Bath 1792). A half-length portrait of the sister of Anne Vernon (1744-1768), the wife of Noel Hill, 1st Lord Berwick (1745-1789), turned slightly to the right, head facing. Miss Vernon is wearing a pale grey coat, lace collar and large flat blue hat with ostrich feather. Miss Caroline Vernon was one of five daughters of Henry Vernon of Hilton Park, Stafford and sister of Anne Vernon (1744-1768), the wife of Noel Hill, 1st Lord Berwick (1745-1789). Henry Vernon (1718–1763), who married Lady Henrietta Wentworth (1720–1786), youngest daughter of the 1st Earl of Strafford, had three sons and five daughters, the eldest of whom became Lady Berwick, and the second, Henrietta, wife of Richard, Earl Grosvenor. The three others were Lucy, Jane and Caroline, the latter being the subject of this portrait. However, there seems to be some confusion with the daughter of Richard Vernon (b. 1725) and Lady Evelyn Leveson-Gower who was also called Caroline (1761- 1835).
Provenance
1st Lord Berwick collection. Noel Hill (1745-1789), created 1st Baron Berwick, 1784. By descent Attingham collection; bequeathed to the National Trust with the estate, house and contents of Attingham by Thomas Henry Noel-Hill, 8th Baron Berwick (1877-1947) on 15th May 1953.
Makers and roles
François-Xavier Vispré (c.1730 - London 1790), artist previously ascribed to William Hoare of Bath, RA (Eye 1707 – Bath 1792), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Jean-Etienne Liotard (Geneva 1702 – Geneva 1789), artist