Portrait of Susannah Papillon (1661-1707) c.1695Titan Fine Art present this elegant large-scale portrait; a fine example of Sir Godfrey Kneller�s court-style depiction of aristocratic and wealthy women. Beautifully composed, the sitter is three quarter length and seated within a wooded landscape. Pastoral backgrounds imply a virtuous character of unpretentious sincerity undefiled by the possession of great wealth and estates. In this picture, we can see Kneller�s technique at its best, the excellent drawing of the face. It is painted with a delicacy that contrasts with Kneller�s more usual bold manner. The sitter is also unencumbered by high fashion or a background of stately topography. The emphasis is instead placed directly on the alluring femininity, and enhanced by the loose drapery and falling hair around her shoulder. We can see how Kneller often allowed the bluer ground layer to show through when suggesting the darker flesh tones.In accordance with the sitter''s age and the style of clothing and hair this portrait can be dated to the 1690s. Traditionally this portrait is thought to represent Susannah Papillon (nee Gregory) who was born on 13th Feb 1699 and married John Gregory Esq - however the portrait was painted before her birth. The sitter is almost definitely her mother, Susannah Henshaw Papillon (1661-1707) and indeed, a portrait of �Susannah Henshaw, 2nd Wife of Philipp Papillon� (oil on canvas, 49.6 in. x 40.2 inches), sold at Dorotheum on October 4, 2000 [Lot 389] and bears a striking resemblance to our sitter.Susannah Henshaw was a daughter of George Henshaw, a merchant and diplomat who served as British Consul in Genoa (d.1724). In 1695 she married Philip Papillon MP (1660-1736). The Papillon�s were a line of politicians and land-owning gentry whose family home was Papillon Hall and Acrise Place, in Kent. The couple had two sons and three daughters. As the portrait was painted in the 1690s, and with the inclusion of the sweetbr...