Portrait of Harriet Robinson (1787-1820) C.1820; Circle of Sir William Beechey Ra (1753-1839)

This portrait was part of a collection of ancient family heirlooms of the Robinson family whose family seat was at Denston Hall in Suffolk since the early 17th century. It descended from the sitter though her family until recently acquired by us

The lady in this portrait is traditionally known to be Henrietta (Harriet) Jeaffreson nee Robinson (1740-1826), the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel John Robinson (d. 1772) and sister to John Robinson who married Rececca Clive, daughter of “Clive of India” in 1782. Harriet married twice - firstly Anthony, de jure 11th, Viscount Gormanston (d.1786) and secondly, in 1794, Lieutenant General Christopher Jeaffreson of Dullingham (1761-1839).

However, it is unlikely that this is a portrait of Henrietta as she was born in 1740 and would have been 80 years old at the time it was painted. This sitter is most likely to be her niece, Harriet Robinson (1787-1820) and depicted when she was 33 years old. This Harriet was born in Denston Suffolk and was the daughter of Lieutenant Colonel John Robinson (d.1772) and granddaughter of Robert, 1st Lord Clive (Clive of India) (1725-1774). She had five brothers and one sister. Having died of a broken heart when she was aged 32 in February 1820, she was buried at Père Lachaise in Paris, France. Her memorial stone (see photo) mentions:

“… in whom elegance of form and mind was united to the pure and benevolent qualities of the heart. Scarcely recovered from the loss of her beloved sister she watched with tender solitude adnd unremitting attention over the deathbeds of her brother and her father: but although animated by the firmist Christian faith her feeble frame sunk under the pressure of such accumulated sorrows”.

Presented in a period gilt frame with carved Viscountess' coronet upon a tasselled cushion.

Provenance: By descent from the sitter through the family, until recently

Measurements: Height 106cm, Width 83cm framed (Height 41.75”, Width 32.5” framed)

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