Oil Portrait of Lady Guilford Circle of John Vanderbank

A refined early 18th-century British oil portrait traditionally identified as Lady Lucy North, Lady Guilford, née Montagu**, dating to circa 1730-1740 and catalogued by Dreweatts as **Circle of John Vanderbank (1694-1739). Lucy Montagu was a daughter of George Montagu, Earl of Halifax. She married Francis North in 1728 and was the mother of Frederick North, Lord North, subsequently Prime Minister of Great Britain. The sitter is presented within an intimate oval, wearing an elegant black gown with crimson and white ornament. Pearls, ribbons and a prominent white feathered headdress complete her fashionable early Georgian appearance. Historical & Artistic Context: John Vanderbank had a documented connection with Lucy's immediate family. In 1736 he painted her widower, Francis North. That signed and dated portrait survives in the National Trust collection. A larger portrait traditionally identifying Lucy was sold at Christie's London in 2008, also attributed to the Circle of John Vanderbank. Particularly importantly, Christie's recorded that portrait as having descended through the Earls of Guilford. Christie's additionally recorded an unattributed oval portrait in a private collection apparently based upon the larger composition. These comparative records provide valuable historical context for the traditional sitter identification and Dreweatts attribution, although the Guilford family provenance belongs to the larger Christie's portrait rather than the present work. Provenance: Private collection. Dreweatts, Old Master, British and European Art, 18 October 2023, Auction 14591, Lot 87. Catalogued as Circle of John Vanderbank (British 1694-1739), Lady Lucy Montagu, Countess of Guildford. Acquired at the above sale. Privately loaned & exhibited at the Famous Lord Hill Museum, Shropshire. Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® collection 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® Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art. Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service. Additional photographs and further information are available upon request.