Inscribed lower right 'Lady Anne Fitzroy, Countess of Sussex'
LADY ANNE FITZROY was the natural daughter of King Charles II and Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine and Duchess of Cleveland; they had spent the Coronation night together and Lady Anne was born nine months later. The King acknowledged the child and granted her the Royal Arms with a baton sinister.
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The children of the union were Charles Lennard, Lord Dacre (1682-84), Henry Lennard (died only months old), Lady Barbara Lennard (1676-1741), Lady Anne Lennard, Baroness Dacre in her own right (1684-1755).
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The Earl and Countess separated in 1688. Lady Anne died in 1722 and her husband in 1715.
SIR PETER LELY (1618-80) was the dominant portraitist of the reign of Charles II. Principal Painter to the King, he painted everyone of importance at the time.
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Lely himself was influenced by Van Dyck, upon whose style he based his own.
In this portrait the pose is very similar to that used by Van Dyck for the youngest child in his portrait of 1635 'The Three Eldest Children of Charles I', but here, rather than the apple used in that painting, Lady Anne holds grapes...a symbol of future fruitfulness and fertility.
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SIZE: 51.75x51.5 inches inc. frame
Verso: old label for 'Clifford Ellison. By Appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Picture Restorer'
PROVENANCE: From the Estate of Brigadier Sir Edward Ford KCB, GCVO [1910-2006] (Asst. Private Secretary to King George VI 1946-52).
By descent through the family :-
The Barons Dacre;
Henry Robert, Viscount Hampden and 24th Baron Dacre;
his son Robert Henry Brand, 1st Baron Brand;
his daughter the Hon. Virginia Brand, wife of Sir Edward Ford.
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
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Sold....portrait of Lady Anne Fitzroy, Countess of Sussex C.1665; Studio or Circle of Lely
