Portrait of a Lady, Margaret Catesby (1640-1727) C.1660; Attributed to John Michael Wright (1617-1694), Oil on Canvas Painting

This beautiful work descended from the sitter through the Catesby family. The Catesby family seat was Ecton Hall, an ancient building that is believed to have been in the hands of just three families since the Norman Conquest. The portrait is an outstanding example by one of England’s most successful native 17th century artists, John Michael Wright. Wright operated a busy and very successful studio painting the upper echelons of society. His Italianate flavour was unlike any other artist’s work in England, his lively faces were individualised, and he painted a much superior likeness than his contemporaries such as Peter Lely.

The young woman is Margaret Catesby nee Samwell and she has been portrayed as the epitome of beauty and youth. The portrait was painted between circa 1660 to 1665, possibly at the time of her marriage in 1665.

When Margaret Samwell was born on 6 October 1640, her father, Sir Richard Samwell, 4th Baronet, of Upton, Northants (1613-1693) was 27 and her mother, Frances Wenman (1616-1677) was 24. Frances was the eldest daughter and co-heir of Sir Thomas Wenman (1596-1664) and granddaughter of Thomas Wenman, 2nd Viscount Wenman. The Samwell family were an ancient family from Cornwall. Sir William Samwell (1559–1628) was an Auditor of the Exchequer to Queen Elizabeth I of England who was knighted at the coronation of King James I of England in 1603. It has been documented that there were portraits at the Samwell family seat, Upton Hall, of both Thomas Catesby and Margaret Catesby, both by Sir Peter Lely.

In 1665, Margaret married Thomas Catesby of Whiston and Ecton, Northants (1632-1699). This marriage produced many children but they all died young except Mary Catesby (1673- 3 Nov 1734), who in 1686 married Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge (1663-1743), and Elizabeth Catesby (baptised 23 May 1673 at Ecton, Northamptonshire), who married Ralph Freeman of Aspeden Hertfordshire.

Thomas and Margaret lived at the Catesby family seat, Ecton Hall (Northamptonshire), which is a spectacular Grade II Listed building. It is believed to have been in the hands of just three families since the Norman Conquest. The first recorded owner of the main manor, in the Domesday survey, was Bondi; he was succeeded by Henry de Ferrers. Ownership descended through the Duchy of Lancaster to the Montgomery family. In 1574 it was sold to the Catesby family. Upon the death of our sitter’s husband in 1699, Thomas Catesby, it descended to his daughter Elizabeth, who married Ralph Freeman, of Aspeden. In 1712, for only the second time since Domesday, the estate was sold to Thomas Isted. Through the marriage of Mary Isted to William Sotheby, in 1780, the property eventually passed to the Sotheby family in 1881.

Thomas died in 1699 leaving Margaret a widow at 59 years of age. Margaret died on 12 January 1727 in Whiston, Northamptonshire, having lived a long life of 86 years.

The portrait is presented in a fine hand carved and gilded antique frame.

John Michael Wright was one of the most successful native English artists of the seventeenth century, and, along with earlier contemporaries such as Robert Walker and William Dobson, was one of only a handful to find favour amongst the top echelons of society.

Provenance: From the sitter at Ecton Hall and by descent through the Catesby family

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