- 152
ENGLISH SCHOOL, CIRCA 1610 | Portrait of Lady Mary Sackville, three-quarter-length, holding a fan and a stem of honeysuckle, seated before a red curtain
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description
- English School, 1624
- Portrait of Lady Mary Sackville, three-quarter-length, holding a fan and a stem of honeysuckle, seated before a red curtain
- inscribed on the reverse: The Lady Mary Sackfield / Daughter to the Earl of Dorsett / Lord High Treasurer of England / and Wife to the Lord of Abergavenny / Great-Grand-Mother to the Lord Coningseby [sic.]
- oil on oak panel, unframed, with extensions to the left, right and upper margins
- 124.6 x 102 cm.; 49 1/8 x 40 1/8 in.
Provenance
Presumably by descent from the sitter to her great-grandson
Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl of Coningsby (1656–1729), Hampton Court, Herefordshire;
Thence by descent to George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden (1757–1839), Hampton Court, Herefordsire, by 1784 (listed in Musgrave MS. 6391, 70v., no. 16);
Probably John Arkwright, who bought Hampton Court in 1809;
Mrs. Jeremy Hutchinson;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 15 March 1972, lot 190 (as Gheeraedts), to the husband of the present owner.
Thomas Coningsby, 1st Earl of Coningsby (1656–1729), Hampton Court, Herefordshire;
Thence by descent to George Capel-Coningsby, 5th Earl of Essex and Viscount Malden (1757–1839), Hampton Court, Herefordsire, by 1784 (listed in Musgrave MS. 6391, 70v., no. 16);
Probably John Arkwright, who bought Hampton Court in 1809;
Mrs. Jeremy Hutchinson;
By whom sold, London, Sotheby's, 15 March 1972, lot 190 (as Gheeraedts), to the husband of the present owner.
Condition
The panel has been extended on all four sides. The extensions are loose and coming away from the main panel. The main panel itself is constructed from three vertically joined boards of equal width. The surface of the painting is very dirty and scoffed in places, with a number of scattered flecks of household emulsion overall. The pigments beneath appear to be well preserved however. There are some minor losses along the panel joins but otherwise no signs of significant damage. Examination under ultraviolet light confirms the opacity of the varnish and reveals minor retouchings overall, predominantly to the panel joins. The picture is sold unframed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Lady Mary Sackville (1584–circa 1613) was the daughter of Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset (1536–1608) and Cecily Barker. She married Henry Neville, 7th Lord Abergavenny (circa 1579–1641) before 1601, and with him had five children. In this portrait Lady Mary is depicted wearing fashionable Jacobean accessories – the black strings looped and tied in knots, from which dangle hoops, possibly carved from carnelian stone. Her white neck is also emphasised by the black string of her necklace, the pendant of which is hidden but may possibly have been formed of a stone believed to have protective and healing properties and thus kept close to the skin. Her bracelet is probably made of coral beads (perhaps alternated with pearls), also thought to be amuletic. Lady Mary's dress is embroidered with silver thread, which could be interpreted as caduceus forms: snakes coiled around rods, emblematic of eloquence and love of literature. The honeysuckle she holds signifies love and devoted affection.
It is interesting to note that the inscription on the reverse of the portrait identifies this as the likeness recorded at Hampton Court, Herefordshire, due to its mention of the sitter's relationship to Lord Coningsby.
It is interesting to note that the inscription on the reverse of the portrait identifies this as the likeness recorded at Hampton Court, Herefordshire, due to its mention of the sitter's relationship to Lord Coningsby.