C.1750 Portrait of a Lady, Jane Wood in a Pink Dress, Fine Carved and Gilded Frame; by John Theodore Heins (1697-1756), Oil on Canvas Painting

This work formed part of an ancient collection of family heirlooms of the Wood family of Bracon Ash, Norfolk. This painting, along with another (also with Titan Fine Art at the time of writing), of our sitter’s sister, descended within the family for around 275 years until recently dispersed; they are exquisite examples of Georgian portraiture in England and represents the best of the artist’s work. They are held in their original carved and gilded frames, which are absolute top quality and condition and magnificent works of art in their own right. The sitter’s daughter, Ann, was famously married on board the Foudroyant, off Naples, in a lavish ceremony in 1799, with Lord Nelson himself giving away the bride.

The sitter is Jane Wood. Her father was Thomas Wood (1682-176) and Dorothy Huby (1700-1759) and the family lived in Norwich, which in 1720 was a city second in importance only to London. Jane was baptised 14 Oct 1727 at Bracon Ash and had many siblings. Her aunt, also Jane (died in 1756 in Bruges, aged 79) was a Franciscan nun. A portrait of her younger sister, Dorothy Wood (1730-1759), is also with Titan Fine Art at the time of writing.

In 1758 Jane married Knipe Gobbet (1730/5-1791) who was Sheriff in 1768 (and Mayor in 1771) of the City of Norwich, and later Lieutenant-Colonel of the West Norfolk Regiment, in which corps he had served in for many years. Knipe was born at his family seat, Tacolneston Hall, to parents George Gobbet (Sheriff in 1710) and Ann. The couple bought and lived in a house in Norwich (later known as Gurney’s Bank House) until 1778 before moving to another one at 10 St Stephen’s Street, Norwich. Later, they inherited the family seat of Tacolnestan Hall and lived there for the remainder of their lives.

Knipe Gobbet was a prominent individual. In 1779 he gave the corporation of Norwich 100 pounds to be disposed of as they might think proper and soon after that he was presented with a handsome field tent, marquee, and camp equipage, in testimony of their esteem for his dedication to the defence and service of this country at a time when threatened by an invasion.

Although Jane was baptised a Roman Catholic Knipe was a prominent local wine merchant, JP, Alderman, sheriff, mayor and Lieutenant. Roman Catholics may have paid lip service to religious conformity as they were excluded from certain areas of public life before the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.

The couple had many children, most of which were schooled at the Order of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, in Paris. Their oldest daughter, Anne (1760-1817) first married Peter Bottalini of London 27 Oct 1783 at Tacolneston Hall. They had one son together. She later met Dr William Compton (1733- 1824), who was Chancellor of Ely and the next collateral male relation to the Earl of Northampton, and on 9th July 1799, they married in a famous and lavish ceremony on board the Foudroyant, off Naples, where the bride was given away by the Right Hon. Lord Nelson himself (Ann and William then spent many years on the continent where they were British residents of Posilipo Naples).

The marriage document, signed by Lord Nelson, Lady Emma Hamilton, Captain Thomas Hardy, and others descended within the family, until sold in a recent sale that raised worldwide interest. It accounts: 'This is to certify that, on board the Foudroyant lying in Naples Bay, on the ninth of July 1799 the marriage between William Compton & Mrs Anne Bottalin, widow, was solemnized by me S. G. Comyn HM. Chaplain to the Right Honble Lord Nelson, H.M.S. Foudroyant, in the presence of'.

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