Lady Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Berkshire (1596-1672)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1700 - 1799
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
737 x 610 mm (29 x 24 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Dunham Massey, Cheshire
NT 932277
Caption
Elizabeth Cecil was the eldest daughter of William Cecil, 2nd Earl of Exeter (d.1640) and Elizabeth Drury (1579-1654) daughter of Sir William Drury. She was therefore the sister-in-law of the 1st Earl of Stamford, whose son-in-law, Sir George Booth, owned Dunham Massey, where this picture hangs. In 1614, she married Thomas Howard, second son of Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk. He was created Earl of Berkshire in 1626. This is a later copy of the portrait formerly in the collection of the Marquess of Ailesbury by the so-called ‘Comet Master’ (by virtue of the fact that a comet appears in the background).
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Elizabeth Cecil, Countess of Berkshire (1596-1672), British (English) School, after 'The Comet Master', 18th century, Inscribed beneath on parapet: LADY ELIZABETH CECIL COUNTESS OF BARKSHIRE. A half-length portrait of a young woman, turned slightly to the right, gazing at the spectator, behind a parapet (on which the inscription is placed) wearing an elaborately embroidered dress with ruff, pale brown hair swept back; comet, top right. The Countess of Berkshire was the sister in law of the 1st Earl of Stamford.
Provenance
Bequeathed to the National Trust with the house, estate and all the contents of Dunham Massey by Roger Grey, 10th Earl of Stamford (1896 - 1976)
Credit line
Dunham Massey, The Stamford Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
(labelled)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist