Portrait of William Clavering-cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper C.1732; Circle of Enoch Seeman (C.1694-1745)

This striking portrait exudes great elegance and style. Sensitively painted and well observed it portrays the essence of the sitter’s amiable character. The subject is William Clavering-Cowper, 2nd Earl Cowper (1709-1764) - a British peer and courtier, Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, and Lord of the Bedchamber to George II. He was the eldest son of William Cowper, 1st Earl Cowper, and Mary Clavering and he succeeded his father in the earldom in 1723 at the tender age of just 14. He first married Lady Henrietta, daughter of Henry de Nassau d'Auverquerque, 1st Earl of Grantham, in 1732. Considering the age of the sitter when the portrait was painted and the attire it is plausible that the portrait was painted to mark this occasion.

In 1744 he was appointed Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, he held this post for the remainder of his life, and after Lady Henrietta’s death in 1747 he married Lady Georgiana Caroline, daughter of John Carteret, 2nd Earl Granville (a cousin of King William III of England), in 1750. He was also godfather for George John Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer – a forebearer of Diana, Princess of Wales.

His son a was a Member of Parliament and as his heir he amassed a valuable art collection and became a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire having spent much of his time in Italy. Having petitioned King George III on more than one occasion for the Order of the Garter, he had ambitions to be the British representative in Florence and it is noted that he tried to increase his favour with the King by offering him Raphael’s self-portrait and his ‘Madonna and Child’ (which sold in 1928 for £175,000) for £2,500.

Enoch Seeman (born in Danzig c.1694) was a successful and popular artist with members of the British aristocracy. His father, his three brothers, his nephew, and his son were also painters. He was trained by his father who brought him as a boy to London from their previous home in Flanders in 1704 (Seeman is often considered to be an English painter). By 1708 he was creating remarkably good portraits whilst still only a teenager and by 1717 Enoch had established a very successful portrait practice in London. He became the British Royal Court painter and painted portraits of both George I and II amongst many other members of the British aristocracy. In 1723 Vertue remarked that ''Enoch. for portrait Painting is in the greatest vogue… and his aristocratic and royal patronage makes him a rival to Charles Jervas.” He made such an impression on Society that he enjoyed a prolific career into the 1740s. It has been alledged that Seeman charged 20 guineas for a full length portrait in 1732.

Held in a very attractive high quality carved giltwood frame dating from the 18th century - a work of art in itself.

Measurements: Height 100cm, Width 86cm framed (Height 39.25”, Width 33.75” framed)

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