Louise Renée de Penencoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649 – 1734)
attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1670 - 1723
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1270 x 1016 mm (50 x 40 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall (Children's Country House), Derbyshire
NT 653188
Caption
Louise was the most celebrated, rapacious mistress of King Charles II, who created her Duchess of Portsmouth and sworn Lady of the Bedchamber to his Queen in 1673. Her career began as maid of honour (by 1669) to the King's sister, Minette (Henriette-Anne, duchesse d'Orléans). Having already captivated the King, Louise returned to England from France after the sudden death of her mistress in June 1670, and was again appointed maid of honour. She bore the king a son in 1672 and he was created Duke of Richmond & Lennox in 1675.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Louise Renée de Penencoët de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649 – 1734), attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646/9 - London 1723). A three-quarter-length portrait, seated, gazing at the spectator, wearing a blue and white decollete dress, her left elbow resting on a red cloak, and her right arm extenedto the left. Landscape with a distant horizon on the left, and a decorated urn and fluted column on the right. Accompanied Henrietta, sister of Charles II, to England as her maid of honour in 1670, soon afterwards becoming the King's mistress. The drapery matches SUD/P/68 save in colour.
Provenance
Vernon collection transferred to the Treasury in 1967 following death of 9th Lord Vernon, and transferred to The National Trust in 1967
Credit line
Sudbury Hall, The Vernon Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to the National Trust in 1967)
Marks and inscriptions
Sir Godfrey Kneller
Makers and roles
attributed to Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist previously catalogued as by Sir Godfrey Kneller (Lübeck 1646 - London 1723), artist previously catalogued as attributed to Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist