Early 18Th Century Aristocratic Oil Portrait Lady Lucy North Countess Montagu

*Early 18th Century Aristocratic Portrait, Circle Of John Vanderbank

An intimate early Georgian portrait traditionally identified as Lady Lucy North, Lady Guilford, née Montagu, circa 1730-1740.

Oil on canvas, presented within an oval and catalogued by Dreweatts as Circle of John Vanderbank (1694-1739).

The sitter wears an elegant black gown enriched with crimson and white detailing, while pearls, ribbons and an elaborate white feathered headdress frame her face.

Lucy Montagu married Francis North in 1728 and was the mother of Frederick North, Lord North, later Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Historical Context

The attribution has an intriguing connection with the sitter's family. John Vanderbank painted Lucy's widower Francis North in 1736, establishing direct North-family patronage.

A substantially larger portrait of Lucy, likewise attributed to the Circle of John Vanderbank, was sold at Christie's London in 2008. Christie's recorded that painting as having descended through the Earls of Guilford and also referred to another oval portrait in a private collection apparently based upon the larger composition.

The Guilford provenance belongs to the comparative Christie's portrait and is not represented as provenance for the present work.

Provenance

Private collection.

Dreweatts, Old Master, British and European Art, 18 October 2023, Auction 14591, Lot 87.

Acquired at the above sale.

Privately loaned & exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire.

Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® collection.

Dimensions

Painting: approximately 34 x 29 cm.

Frame: approximately 43.5 x 39 x 4 cm.

Condition Report

The canvas has been relined and displays fine age-related craquelure, historic surface wear and evidence of previous restoration and retouching.

The associated gilt frame has attractive age-related rubbing, marks and minor losses.

Shipping

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Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

**Attribution and Research**

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available evidence, comparative research, published reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

**Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®**

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