Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
ANNE, VISCOUNTESS BAYNING OF FOXLEY(1619 - 1678).
Viscount Bayning, of Sudbury in the County of Suffolk, was a title in the Peerage of England. It was created on 8 March 1628 for Paul Bayning, 1st Baron Bayning. He had already been created a Baronet, of Bentley Parva in the County of Essex, in the Baronetage of England on 24 September 1611, and Baron Bayning, of Horkesley in the County of Essex, on 27 February 1628, also in the Peerage of England. He was succeeded by his son, the second Viscount. On his early death in 1638 the titles became extinct.
In 1674 the viscountcy was revived in favour when she was made Viscountess Bayning, of Foxley in the County of Berkshire, for life, in the Peerage of England. She was the wife of firstly Henry Murray, Groom of the Bedchamber to Charles I, and secondly of Sir John Baber. The life peerage became extinct on her death in 1678; she was buried at the Savoy Church, London.
The Bayning title was revived once again in 1797 in favour of the Viscountess Bayning's great-great-grandson Charles Townshend, who was made Baron Bayning in the Peerage of Great Britain. See this title for more information.
The Honourable Elizabeth Bayning, daughter of the first Viscount, married Francis Lennard, 14th Baron Dacre, and was created Countess of Sheppey for life in 1680. The Honourable Mary Bayning, daughter of the first Viscount, married William Villiers, 2nd Viscount Grandison, and was the mother of Barbara, Duchess of Cleveland, mistress of Charles II.
GERARD SOEST (d. 1681), portrait-painter, is usually stated to have been born in Westphalia. It is more probable that he was, like Sir Peter Lely, a native of Soest, near Utrecht, as his portraits have some affinity to those of the Utrecht school. He appears to have been born early in the century, but nothing is known of him until he came to London, already in some repute as a painter, and quickly obtained employment. His portraits are carefully and forcibly painted, the character of the sitter being well preserved, but his somewhat uncompromising style was tempered by a study of the works of Vandyck in order to suit the English taste.
SIZE: Canvas size:29.75x25 inches
35 x 30.5 inches inc frame.
PROVENANCE: English Private Collection.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 17th Century.
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Portrait of Anne, Viscountess Bayning C.1640; Circle of Gerard Soest.
