Lady Mary Hervey, Lady Mary Fitzgerald (1726-1815)
attributed to Johann Zoffany, RA (Frankfurt am Main 1733 - Kew 1810)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1765
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
654 x 505 mm (25 ¾ x 19 ⅞ in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851789
Caption
The sitter was the second daughter of John, Lord Hervey (1696-1743) and Mary Lepel, daughter of Brigadier General Nicholas Lepel. She married, on 31 October 1745, George Fitzgerald of Turlough Park, Co. Mayo, from whom she separated in 1754. They were the parents of George Robert Fitzgerald, ‘Fighting Fitzgerald’, (1748?-1786) a reckless and offensive character, who took part in at least 26 duels and killed a man in an attempt to ambush him; for this he was hanged in 1786. During her long life Mary was a close friend of John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich and she joined Lady Huntingdon’s Methodist congregation. On 9 April 1815, at the age of 89, she was accidentally burnt to death.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Lady Mary Hervey, Lady Mary Fitzgerald (1726-1815), attributed to Johann Zoffany, RA (Frankfurt am Main 1733 - Kew 1810), circa 1765. A three-quarter-length portrait of a young woman, turned slightly to the left, gazing at the spectator, seated in a green chair, her left hand to her cheek, her right hand on her lap; she wears a mauve satin dress, wide lace sleeves, lace cap and white satin shawl; heavy necklace of long ropes of white beads or pearls; pearl bracelets on each wrist. (?Pentiment by right hand). Inscribed 'Lady Mary Fitzgerald'.
Provenance
Accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to the National Trust in 1956
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Marks and inscriptions
Lady Mary Fitzgerald
Makers and roles
attributed to Johann Zoffany, RA (Frankfurt am Main 1733 - Kew 1810), publisher