Sold....portrait of Elizabeth Felton, Lady Hervey, C.1705; by Michael Dahl

Oil on canvas in period carved and giltwood frame.

The sitter in this portrait has traditionally been identified as “Lady Hervey”. It seems most likely that the sitter is Elizabeth Felton, second wife of John, 1st Earl of Bristol, whom Dahl is known to have painted through an engraving by John Simon (National Portrait Gallery).

The similarities in likeness between the engraving and the present picture are compelling.

ELIZABETH FELTON (1676-1741) was the daughter of Sir Thomas Felton, 4th Bt. and Lady Elizabeth Howard. Her home was Playford Hall, Suffolk (see image 5) and her father was Master of the Household to Queen Anne.

She married John Hervey, 1st Earl of Bristol, son of Sir Thomas Hervey and Isabella May, on 25 July 1695 at Boxted Hall, Suffolk, England.

She held the office of Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Caroline. As a result of her marriage, Elizabeth Felton became Baroness Hervey of Ickworth on 23 March 1702/3, then Countess of Bristol on 19 October 1714.

Elizabeth was noted for her vivacity and love of pleasure and of play.

Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, a close friend, wrote that "the Countess has come out a new creature... is grown young, blooming, coquette and gallant, and to show she is fully sensible of the errors of her past life, and resolved to make up for time misspent, she has two lovers at a time."

She had 17 children of whom 10 died very young.

She died on 1 May 1741 at St. James's Park, St. James's, London, England. She was buried at Ickworth, Suffolk, England.

MICHAEL DAHL (1659-1743) was born in Stockholm; after studying in Paris, Rome and Frankfurt he settled in London in 1689. He soon became the best patronised portrait painter in England after Kneller. He was much employed at the Court painting many portraits; a great patron of the 1690s was the Duke of Somerset, for whom he painted the series of portraits of Court ladies known as the 'Petworth Beauties'.

His style is extremely close to Kneller but his interpretation of character is less brash and more human. He has a quieter but somehow more understanding appeal to character which relies on its own integrity to make its impact; his works are of a real distinction.

This painting is a fine example of Dahl's sensitive portraiture and is of considerable charm.

It is illustrated on thePeerage.com in the entry on Lady Hervey.

SIZE:36.5 x 31.5 inches inc. frame.

PROVENANCE:

*Sir David Erskine Bt. (1792-1841) of Cambo, Fife. Inscribed on the canvas verso.

*With Philip Mould (Historical Portraits), Mayfair, London.

NOTE:The Erskine Baronetcy, of Cambo in the County of Fife, was created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 27 August 1821 for David Erskine. He was the natural grandson of Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie.