Dreweatts 1759
Lot 249
ATTRIBUTED TO MARY BEALE (BRITISH 1632-1697) AFTER SIR PETER LELY LETITIA ISABELLA SMITH, COUNTESS OF RADNOR (CIRCA 1630 - 1714) IN PEERESS' ROBES Oil on canvas laid to boardProvenance: Possibly commissoned by John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor for Llanhydrock, until inherited by Lady Isabella Legh, nee Robartes, or Charles Legh, and thence by descent at Adlington Hall 124.5 x 99 cm Saleroom Notice:Please note the measurements have been updated. Literature: Another version of this portrait https://www.nationaltrustcollections.org.uk/object/352351 Letitia Isabella Smith was the daughter of Sir John Smith of Bidborough, Kent. She was the second wife of John Robartes, 1st Earl of Radnor with whom she had nine other children, including Francis, and Araminta, who married Ezekiel Hopkins, Bishop of Derry. Letitia has been identified as the "Lady Robarts" mentioned in Count Hamilton's Mémoires du Comte de Grammont, par le C. Antoine Hamilton. Edition ornée de LXXII portraits, Graves d'apres les tableaux originaux., A Londres, [1793], and was described by Samuel Pepys as "a great beauty indeed". Although confusingly previously identified as Harriet, Wife of William, 1st Earl of Radnor (2nd Creation) another version of this work is housed at Llanhydrock House, Cornwall, inscribed as being Letitia Isabella Smith. The present portrait most likely entered the Legh collection following the marriage of Lady Isabella Robartes (1674-1725) to John Legh of Adlington Hall in 1693. Alternatively, it is conceivable that it could have been retained at Llanhyrdrock but later gifted to or purchased by the Legh family upon the death of their cousin, the 3rd Earl of Radnor, in 1741 when the Radnor title and Llanhydrock were separated: the title succeeded by distant cousin and the house, believe by antiquarian John Loveday to be in a sorry state, bequeathed to a nephew. Condition Report: The measurements are wrong, and the correct ones are the following: 124.5 x 99 cm The canvas is heavily relined. UV light reveals various retouches across the whole surface. Numerous retouches cross the whole left border, with many of about 4cm in width, and the larger, in the upper left corner, of about 8cm. Many retouches are also visible on the dress, especially on the red cloth where scattered retouches are added in the folds. In addition, a 8 cm vertical long restoration is present on the white cloth near the bottom border. Furthermore, extensive retouching is present in the background, especially on the back curtain. A few scattered pink coloured retouches, which are also visible to the naked eye, are present on the hands, and arms, and slightly on the hair. To conclude, a 7 cm long superficial scratch is present to he left of the sitter. Condition Report Disclaimer
