Richard Wilson, R.A.
Portrait of a lady, probably Lady Martha Hicks, née Browne (1715–1802), half-length, wearing a fur stole and blue dress
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Richard Wilson, R.A.
Penegoes, Powys 1713/14–1782 Colomendy, Clwyd
Portrait of a lady, probably Lady Martha Hicks, née Browne (1715–1802), half-length, wearing a fur stole and blue dress
oil on canvas, in a painted oval, unlined, in a period frame
unframed: 76.2 x 63.8 cm.; 30 x 25⅛ in.
framed: 93.7 x 81.3 cm.; 36⅞ x 32 in.
Probably commissioned by the sitter’s husband, Sir Howe Hicks, 6th Bt (1722–1801);
Thence by descent at Witcombe Park, Gloucestershire;
Their sale, Gloucestershire, Chorley's, 20 September 2022, lot 809 (as English School, early 18th century, Portrait of Mrs Elizabeth Browne);
Where acquired by a private collection, United Kingdom.
Probably E.S. Hicks Beach, A Cotswold Family: Hicks and Hicks Beach, London 1909, pp. 266–67 (as a portrait of Elizabeth Browne, née Bourne);
P. Spencer-Longhurst, Richard Wilson Online, September 2024, no. P232 (as Presumed Portrait of Lady [Martha] Hicks [1715–1802]).
This rediscovered painting by Richard Wilson constitutes an important addition to the small corpus of known portraits by the Welsh artist, who is better known today as a landscape specialist. Previously misidentified as a portrait of Elizabeth Browne, née Bourne (1677/8–1766), perhaps on account of the inscription on the left stretcher bar (West Brown / 1736), which was probably added by a later hand, this portrait likely depicts her daughter, Martha. Martha married her father's ward, Sir Howe Hicks, on 28 July 1739 and the couple lived thereafter at his ancestral home, Witcombe Park, Gloucestershire. This picture is recorded at Witcombe in 1909 (see Literature).
You May Also Like
