A pleasing three-quarter length portrait of a fashionable young lady with a parrot on her hand.
There may also be a reference to the source of the family's wealth; from these distant lands came slaves, sugar, rum and mahogany...often creating vast fortunes; many fine mansions in great estates were built on these trades.
Inscribed on one of the stretchers, in an old script, is the name 'Alington', sugesting that the sitter is a member of the ancient family of Alington of Horseheath, Cambs and Wymondeley, Herts.
(The forebear of this family having been the
Under Marshal to William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066).
If this so, the most likely candidate is the Hon. Catherine Alington, daughter of William, 3rd Baron Alington of Killard, 1st Lord Alington of Wymondeley and Lady Diana Russell, daughter of the 1st Duke of Bedford.
Born in 1677, Catherine married, in 1694, Sir Nathaniel Napier 3rd Baronet of More Crichel. Their daughter Diana eventually became sole heiress of the Alingtons and Napiers and was ancestress of the later Lords Alington (of a new creation).
Catherine, Lady Napier died in 1724.
SIR GODFREY KNELLER (1646-1723) was the most distinguished painter of baroque portraits in England.
Born in Lubeck, he trained with Bol and Rembrandt, coming to London in 1676.
By 1679 he had painted the King and remained the most famous and successful portrait painter in England until his death.
In 1688 he was made Principal Painter to the King and was knighted in 1692 and a made a baronet in 1715.
His style had a profound influence on British portraiture and a large number of artists, some very talented in their own right, emulated his fashionable style.
SIZE: 43 x 36 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: A Suffolk Collection.
Verso: inscription 'Alington', and the words 'Left Hand - East Hall Door'.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art Profile Page
Sold....portrait of a Young Lady (Hon Catherine Alington ?) with a Parrot C.1695; Circle of Kneller
