Portrait of Peregrine Bertie, Marquess of Lindsey 1717, by Charles D'agar.

Oil on canvas in the original carved and giltwood frame.

This is a charming portrait, typical of its time and of D'Agar's work.

To the right of the sitter is depicted what seems to be a rather burly lamb in an oval, gazing up at the marquess.

But....an inspired suggestion from collector and connoisseur Richard Grigson:

"Might it perhaps be a RAM? Leaving aside the festoons of titles, the underlying coat of arms of the Berties of Grimsthorpe Castle featured three battering rams. Could this not be a rebus of the punning kind playing upon their motto 'virtue is stronger than the ram', with a ram looking at his, by implication, virtuous master?"

This image had been painted over but was revealed during the conservation, it is unquestionably original.

PEREGRINE BERTIE, MARQUESS OF LINDSEY, later 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. Born 1686, died 1742. Son of Robert Bertie, 1st Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven. Married Jane, daughter and co-heiress of Sir John Brownlow Bt. of Belton.

Vice -Chamberlain to Queen Anne, M.P. for Lincolnshire 1708-1715. He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1723.

Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire in 1723 and Lord Warden and Justice in Eyre, North of Trent between 1734 and 1742.

Children of Peregrine Bertie, 2nd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven and Jane Brownlow:-

Lady Jane Bertie

Lady Caroline Bertie3 d. 8 Jun 1774

Lady Mary Bertie

unknown daughter Bertie

General Peregrine Bertie, 3rd Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven b. 1714, d. 12 Aug 1778

Brownlow Bertie, 5th Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven b. 1 May 1729, d. 8 Feb 1809

CHARLES D'AGAR (1669 - 1723) came to England with his Huguenot father Jacques in 1681, settling here permanently after a stay in Copenhagen by 1691. D'Agar's manner is directly comparable in style to Michael Dahl. He had a good practice, numbering such people as the Duke of Buccleuch and Lord Bolingbroke among his patrons.

SIZE: 37 x 32 inches inc. frame.

PROVENANCE: By direct descent in the sitter's family to Montague Peregrine Albemarle Bertie, 12th Earl of Lindsay (1861-1938), and by descent to his daughter, Lady Muriel Felicia Vere Barclay-Harvey (1893-1980) of Ayton Castle, Berwickshire.

VERSO: A copperplate extensive inscription about the sitter, also that it was written in 1889, was No. 7 in the inventory, and hung in the Drawing Room.

The original canvas bears an 18th century inscription of sitter and artist. The painting had never been lined, but it was now necessary to do so. A transparent lining has been used so the inscription is not lost. This is protected by board bearing a photographic image.