John Parker, later 1st Earl of Morley (1772-1840), and his Sister Theresa Parker, later the Hon. Mrs George Villiers (1775-1856), as children
Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
Feb 1779 - Jul 1779
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1422 x 1118 mm (56 x 44 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Saltram, Devon
NT 872091
Caption
A charming portrait of John Parker, later 1st Earl of Morley (1772-1840) and his Sister, Theresa Parker, later the Hon. Mrs George Villiers (1775-1792), as children, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (1723-1792). Family records reveal that this was apparently a characteristic pose of the children.
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, John Parker, later 1st Earl of Morley (1772-1840) and his Sister Theresa Parker, later the Hon. Mrs George Villiers (1775-1856), as children by Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), 1779. John and Theresa as children are seated full length on a bank beneath a tree. The little girl, right in white dress, pink sash and white cap with a pink ribbon, faces the spectator, her hands folded on her lap. The boy, wearing a red coat and white breeches, has his arms round the waist of his sister. John Parker, son of 1st Lord Boringdon. Created Earl of Morley. Theresa married George Villiers, son of 1st Earl of Clarendon.
Provenance
Sittings between February and July 1779. Arrived at Saltram in August 1779. At Saltram by 1951 and accepted by HM Treasury in lieu of full payment of Estate Duty from the Executors of Edmund Robert Parker (1877-1951), 4th Earl of Morley and transferred on loan to NT Saltram in 1957 and transferred as an outright gift to NT in 1984 under s.9 of the Heritage Act 1980 to be maintained and preserved for display to the public at Saltram House with which they have a significant association.
Credit line
Saltram, The Morley Collection (accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to The National Trust in 1957)
Marks and inscriptions
Recto: Inscription: (painted out), bottom left, Jno & Theresa , Son & / Dr of Jno Ld Boringdon Recto: Inscribed, bottom right: Sr J:Reynolds / pinxit 1781
Makers and roles
Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), artist
References
Saltram 1902 Catalogue of Pictures at Saltram and 31 Prince's Gardens 1902, pp.5-7, No.19 Portrait Groups from National Trust Collections (exh cat) Arts Council of Great Britain (touring exh), National Museum of Wales, Cardiff, Wakefield, Luton, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, Coventry, 1960-1, no. 17, pp.18-19, pl.V Waterhouse 1941 Ellis K. Waterhouse, Reynolds, London, 1941, p.73