You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Stripe Online Payments
Sellingantiques have now partnered with Stripe card processing to give you a seamless purchase experience of antiques on sellingantiques.
Millions of companies of all sizes use Stripe online to accept payments and is the worlds No.1 payment gateway.
So how does it work: Look for the button in the antique details page to instantly purchase antiques from dealers who have activated Stripe online payments.
You can now easily filter and show antiques that only have this option enabled.
Using this button notifies us immediately that you have purchased this item. Once you have made the payment we will instantly mark it as sold to ensure that no one else can buy it.
Discounts can also be made available.
We are always improving the purchase experience for both buyer and seller and more and more dealers are enabling this option each week.
Portrait Of A Lady Susannah Papillon C.1695; Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), Antique Oil On Canvas Painting
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
Portrait of Susannah Papillon (1661-1707) c.1695
Titan 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 sweetbriar roses in her hand, a representation of love, this portrait was almost certainly painted to celebrate the occasion of her marriage in 1695.
The Papillons were Huguenots that came to England from Frame in 1588 to avoid persecution as Protestants. They built Papillon Hall in Lubenham (Leicestershire) in about 1620. The family purchased Acrise Place, Kent in 1664 and sold it in 1850 (but repurchased by Mr. A.H. Papillon around 1946).
Although history records what became of the sitter’s husband (and his heir) it is not known which branch of the family held this portrait in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is possible that a collection of art and furniture, which may have included this picture, was reassembled at the time of Acrise Place''s re-acquisition around 1946.
The painting was recently located at Dewlish House, near Dewlish - one of Dorset’s most beautiful country houses built in the Queen Anne/Georgian style in 1702 on the site of a large Roman villa.
This exquisite painting is held in its outstanding original hand carved and gilded frame.
Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) dominates our understanding of British portraiture at the turn of the seventeenth century. With Van Dyck, Lely and Reynolds, his name has become synonymous with the visual interpretation of British history – not least because he painted almost every person of prominence in forty years of British public life. This reputation was well-deserved, and although Kneller''s age embraced many accomplished painters none came close to Kneller in immediate fame, or in such instant association in the popular mind with the exercise of portraiture. Kneller is remembered for having painted ten ruling sovereigns, including every reigning British monarch from King Charles II to King George I.
See full description at: www.titanfineart.com
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?
• Expertly Curated Selection
We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.
• Museum-Level Research
Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.
• Professional Conservation
All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.
• Transparent Pricing
No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.
• Export Pricing Advantage
Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.
• Specialist Global Shipping
We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.
• Buy with Confidence
A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.
• Original Period Frames
Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.
• Personal Advisory Service
We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.
Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA1036621
Dateline of this antique is 17th Century
Height is 147cm (57.9inches)Width is 121cm (47.6inches)Depth is 7cm (2.8inches)
Antique SA1036621 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
ANTIQUE SA1036621
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your rating and comment have been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your score has been recieved.
Thanks. But what can we do better?
SEND COMMENT
If you would like to be contacted to discuss your feedback then please leave a phone number or email address in your message.
Thanks for your great feedback!
We love it when our wonderful visitors are happy with us!
SEND COMMENT
Live daily database information for 18 July 2026
Antiques approved in last 24 hours
26
Antiques awaiting approval
24
Antiques rejected in last 24 hours
0
Unique visitors today
6897
Total antique impressions today
1151637
Total antiques for sale
67077
Total value of antiques for sale
£139256101
Antiques uploaded so far in July 2026
2462
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in July 2026
256671
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in 2026
3818211
Item saved
The Portrait of a Lady Susannah Papillon c.1695; Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), Antique oil on canvas painting has been added to your saved items.
Sending email ...
... please wait
Sending Email...
... please wait
Problem with this page?
You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Sending an email to: Titan Fine Art
Item: #SA1036621 Portrait of a Lady Susannah Papillon c....
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.