An Unknown Noblewoman, called the ‘Countess of Mar’ but really Mrs Mead perhaps Anne Mead (after Reynolds)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1772 (after) - 1861 (bought Noel Hill)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
730 x 565 mm (28 3/4 x 22 1/4 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Attingham Park, Shropshire
NT 608961
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, An Unknown Noblewoman, called the ‘Countess of Mar’ but really 'Mrs Mead, perhaps Anne Mead' (after Reynolds), British (English) School, after 1772. A half-length portrait, seated, facing, head turned three-quarters to left, her right elbow resting on a plinth, left, her head supported on her right hand; her hair is powdered and dressed high; wearing white satin dress, fastened down the bodice with two large jewels, the top one with a pendant pearl; she also wears a pink, ermine-trimmed overdress. The original, or superior version, was in the Chicago Art Institute of Art but sold in 1988.
Provenance
Purchased by Colonel William Noel Hill, 6th Lord Berwick in 1861 for £20 as of Lady Mar by Sir Joshua Reynolds; 1883 Inventory, p.8 - Portrait Lady high head dress; 1898 Inventory, p.8 - Sir J. Reynolds, Portrait of a Lady in ermine trimmed pink robe and white bodice, with pearl pendant; 1913 Inventory p.65 - Portrait of a Lady in ermine.Sir J. Reynolds; Catalogue 1928, Portrait of a Lady Sir Joshua Reynolds; 'Heirloom' 1947 Probate Valuation no.70 Portrait of a Lady, Sir Joshua Reynolds; 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 as Portrait of a Lady by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Makers and roles
British (English) School, publisher previously catalogued as attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), publisher
References
Mannings 2000: David Mannings, Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Complete Catalogue of his Paintings. The Subject Pictures catalogued by Martin Postle, New Haven & London 2000, no. 1236 and fig. 1055