You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Stripe Online Payments
Sellingantiques have now partnered with Stripe card processing to give you a seamless purchase experience of antiques on sellingantiques.
Millions of companies of all sizes use Stripe online to accept payments and is the worlds No.1 payment gateway.
So how does it work: Look for the button in the antique details page to instantly purchase antiques from dealers who have activated Stripe online payments.
You can now easily filter and show antiques that only have this option enabled.
Using this button notifies us immediately that you have purchased this item. Once you have made the payment we will instantly mark it as sold to ensure that no one else can buy it.
Discounts can also be made available.
We are always improving the purchase experience for both buyer and seller and more and more dealers are enabling this option each week.
Portrait Of Catherine Watson, Countess Of Rockington (1658-1695) C.1677; Studio Of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680)
Status:This item has been sold Sold by:Titan Fine Art
This work formed part of a collection of family pictures and heirlooms of the Smyth Baronets at their magnificent one-thousand-year-old stately home Ashton Court, where they resided for over 400 years. The sitter in this magnificent portrait descended from one of the best and most ancient families in England. From the studio of the most technically proficient painter in England after the death of Van Dyck, and the dominant court painter to Charles II and James, Duke of York, Sir Peter Lely.
This elegant and beautiful painting is a classic example of English Baroque portraiture. Meticulously rendered, the sitter is three quarter length, holding a cluster of flowers. The painting abounds with ingenious flourishes and demonstrations of the painter''s skill and superior pictorial technique. It was painted circa 1677 when Lely was at the height of his artistic powers and most likely on the occasion of the sitter’s marriage. Sir Peter Lely’s character and talent dominated the art wo...rld in the second half of the seventeenth century in England and everyone of significance sat to him.
This elegant portrait of Catherine Watson, Countess of Rockington (1657-1695) portrays her in the finest dress and seated in a rocky outcrop with romantic autumnal landscape beyond. It was a popular pose that Lely used throughout the 1670’s and one which would have been chosen from a selection by the sitter. In line with tradition at the time the portrait was likely painted on the occasion of her marriage in 1677. It was common for more than one portrait to be produced to adorn the walls of the sitter’s various estates or to give to friends and family as gifts. One other version of this portrait is known to exist.
Born Lady Catherine Sondes in 1658 to Sir George Sondes, 1st Earl of Feversham KB (1599-1677) and Mary Villiers (d.1688), daughter of Sir William Villiers, of Brooksby. The family of Sondes is found in Throwley, in Kent, as early as the fourteenth century. Catherine, who was the heiress of her father, married Lewis Watson, 3rd Baron Rockingham, later 1st Earl of Rockingham (1655-1724) on 17th July 1677. The Watson family had been settled at Rockingham, Northamptonshire, since the reign of Henry VIII. The family seat still remains - Rockingham Castle. Lewis was the grandson of the infamous Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1593-1641) - a major figure in the period leading up to the Civil War). Her father had died three months earlier and there followed an acrimonious court case over the Feversham inheritance, which led to a ruling by the House of Lords in July 1678 that his brother-in-law Louis de Duras, the 2nd Earl (widower of the elder daughter, Lady Mary Sondes d.v.p. in 1676), who had succeeded to the Feversham title by special remainder, should receive £3,000 p.a. for life out of the estates. The 2nd Earl therefore retained these Kentish estates.
Our portrait was in the Smyth family collection at their manor house Ashton Court.
Much more info about this item at: www.titanfineart.com
In a market saturated with available paintings, Titan Fine Art offers a distinct advantage: we sift through thousands of works to provide a specially curated selection. Each piece is meticulously chosen based on technical merit, provenance, and decorative appeal, ensuring our clients view only the finest examples of British and European art.
With over 20 years of expertise and 1,000+ works placed with collectors and institutions, we are one of the most prolific specialists in 17th and 18th-century portraiture. We combine a scholarly approach with museum-level rigor to replace the uncertainty of the open market with absolute confidence.
Why Buy From Titan Fine Art?
• Expertly Curated Selection
We act as your expert eye, selecting only high-quality works that offer genuine historical and artistic value.
• Museum-Level Research
Each portrait is supported by extensive academic research, often exceeding 40 hours, to establish attribution, sitter identity, and historical context.
• Professional Conservation
All paintings are carefully cleaned and stabilised by professional conservators, and are presented ready to hang.
• Transparent Pricing
No buyer’s premium or hidden fees—unlike auction houses, where additional costs can add 25–35%.
• Export Pricing Advantage
Reduced pricing is available for works exported outside the UK.
• Specialist Global Shipping
We manage the entire process, including custom crating, export documentation, and fully tracked delivery worldwide.
• Buy with Confidence
A 7-day return policy and the option to pay in GBP, USD, or EUR for convenience and transparency.
• Original Period Frames
Many works retain their original carved and gilded frames, which are works of art in their own right and enhance both historical authenticity and decorative impact.
• Personal Advisory Service
We work directly with collectors and interior designers, offering guidance on selection, scale, and placement—including bespoke room mock-ups on request.
Subscribe to our monthly 'new item alert' to be the first to hear about new works
Antique ID Number (AIDN): SA706129
Dateline of this antique is 17th Century
Height is 144cm (56.7inches)Width is 120cm (47.2inches)Depth is 9cm (3.5inches)
Antique SA706129 shown on this page was made in the 17th Century. For historical context, the timeline below highlights the period when it was created:
←C17th
ANTIQUE SA706129
CONTACT DETAILS OF SELLER:
Titan Fine Art
Specialist in 17th & 18thC portraits. Highly curated selection, museum-level research & pro conservation. Exceptional art, expertly vetted.
London
United Kingdom
Tel: 07875 412 111
STATUS
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN SOLD
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your rating and comment have been sent to Sellingantiques.
Thank you.
Your score has been recieved.
Thanks. But what can we do better?
SEND COMMENT
If you would like to be contacted to discuss your feedback then please leave a phone number or email address in your message.
Thanks for your great feedback!
We love it when our wonderful visitors are happy with us!
SEND COMMENT
Live daily database information for 18 July 2026
Antiques approved in last 24 hours
26
Antiques awaiting approval
58
Antiques rejected in last 24 hours
0
Unique visitors today
11376
Total antique impressions today
1749937
Total antiques for sale
67024
Total value of antiques for sale
£139070991
Antiques uploaded so far in July 2026
2461
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in July 2026
261150
Unique visitors to Sellingantiques so far in 2026
3822690
Item saved
The Portrait of Catherine Watson, Countess of Rockington (1658-1695) c.1677; Studio of Sir Peter Lely (1618-1680) has been added to your saved items.
Sending email ...
... please wait
Sending Email...
... please wait
Problem with this page?
You can contact us with the problem you are having and we will investigate.
Sending an email to: Titan Fine Art
Item: #SA706129 Portrait of Catherine Watson, Countess ...
Thank you.
Your comment has been sent to Sellingantiques.