An Unknown Woman, called Lady Thornhill
British (English) School
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1700 - 1750
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
762 x 622 mm (30 x 24½ in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Nostell Priory, West Yorkshire
NT 959510
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, An Unknown Woman, called Lady Thornhill (d. 1757), British (English) School, previously catalogued as attributed to William Hogarth (London 1697 - London 1764). A half-length portrait of a woman, in a painted oval, turned to the left, her head turned back to face the viewer. She wears a brown dress and white fichu and black and white cap. The portrait was purchased by Charles Winn as a portrait by William Hogarth, and has traditionally been identified as a portrait of Hogarth's mother-in-law, Judith, Lady Thornhill (d. 1757).
Provenance
Acquired by Charles Winn from the London dealer, Joseph Aken in 1871, at a cost of £10, as a work by William Hogarth; purchased by the National Trust by private treaty sale from Lord St Oswald in 2010
Credit line
Nostell Priory, The St Oswald Collection (National Trust)
Marks and inscriptions
On a piece of old canvas (possibly from the old lining canvas), attached to the back of the stretcher bar: Lady Thornhill / by her son-in-law William / Hogarth; She died in / 1757, and was buried at / Chiswick. Hogarth married her daughter / in 1730. On the front of the frame: HOGARTH On the back of the frame: Picture label of Holder & Sons, 14 King Street, Covent Garden, “late of 33 Brewer St”
Makers and roles
British (English) School, artist previously catalogued as after William Hogarth (London 1697 - London 1764), artist previously catalogued as circle of Joseph Highmore (London 1692 – Canterbury 1780), artist previously catalogued as manner of Sir Joshua Reynolds PRA (Plympton 1723 - London 1792), artist
References
Brockwell 1915 Maurice Walter Brockwell, Catalogue of the Pictures and Other Works of Art in the Collection of Lord St Oswald at Nostell Priory, London 1915, cat. 303, plate XXXIV