Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Dimly seen by his left shoulder is a stag.
In fact as art collector Richard Grigson has informed me :' the website of the Bull & Swan in Burghley says "there was a drinking club at Burghley House founded by the Fifth Earl of Exeter in 1684, called the Honourable Order of Little Bedlam. The Earl of Gainsborough was known as Greyhound, the Honourable Charles Bertie was The Stag, the Earl of Denbigh was Tyger amongst other nefarious characters..." ' This club was relaunched in 1705.
CHARLES BERTIE 1674 -1730. Married in 1704 to the daughter and heiress of John Norborne Esq. of Great Stukeley, Huntindonshire. (3 sons, 1 daughter).
Guided by his very politically minded father, Charles Bertie I, the sitter became active in politics from at least 1702; however it was not until 1711 that he gained a parliamentary seat, when returned on a family interest for Stamford at a by-election caused by the death of his father.
In 1713 he followed the lead of his kinsman, the 2nd Earl of Abingdon, Montagu Venables-Bertie in voting against the French Commerce Bill. He evidently did not sever all links with his party, for the Worsley list classed him as a Tory, and after 1715 he remained in Opposition, voting against the Septennial Bill.
He died on 12 April 1730 leaving a substantial inheritance; he was succeeded by his son Charles Bertie III, who did not choose a poitical career.
SIZE: 37 x 32.5 inches inc. frame.
PROVENANCE: By direct family descent until purchased a few years ago by a member of another distinguished and ancient family.
VERSO: Old handwritten label date August 1885 giving details of the sitter and its place of hanging in the Drawing Room, numbered 2, so presumably hung next to the portrait of his son numbered 1 in the same hand. Now obscured by the recent relining the canvas bears D'Agar's signature and the date.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 18th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Charles Bertie II of Uffington 1711, by Charles D'agar.
