Elizabeth Washington, Lady Ferrers (c.1655-1693), as Minerva
after John Michael Wright (bap. London 1617 - London 1694)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1671
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1257 x 1003 mm
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall (Children's Country House), Derbyshire
NT 653205
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Elizabeth Washington, Lady Ferrers (c.1655-1693), as Minerva, after John Michael Wright (London 1617 - London 1694), circa 1671. A three-quarter-length portrait of a young woman, turned slightly to the right, gazing at the spectator, holding a spear in her right hand and resting her left hand on a shield on which is the head of the Medusa, wearing fancy dress as Pallas Athene, Minerva, consisting of a white dress with gold embroided bodice, blue and white plumed helmet and blue cloak. A blue drape is across the bottom of the picture at left, she also wears jewelled bracelets on her white sleeves. Behind, to the right is a fountain with grotesque masks in front of a pink sky, a large rocky formation is behind her on the left. First wife of Sir Robert Shirley, later Lord Ferrers, to whom she bore seventeen children.
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)
Makers and roles
after John Michael Wright (bap. London 1617 - London 1694), artist