Mary Bertie (née Panton), Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven (d. 1793)

  • About the work

    Mary Bertie (née Panton), Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven is depicted by the shadow of a tree, leaning pensively against a pedestal. She is wearing a loose, flowy dress and resting her left arm on the velvet and ermine cloak. The Duchess was the daughter of Thomas Panton, Master of the King’s Running Horses at Newmarket and served as Mistress of the Robest to Queen Charlotte from 1761 until 1793. Reynold’s painting from which this mezzotint was taken is part of the collection of the Marquess of Cholmondeley at Houghton Hall.


  • About the artist
    Joshua Reynolds was the dominant artistic personality during the age of George III. He was born in Plympton, Devon. From 1750 to 1752 he studied the work of the Old Masters in Rome. Reynolds returned via Florence and Paris, and settled in London in 1753. In 1759 he painted a portrait of the future king, George, Prince of Wales (Royal Collection). After George’s accession the following year, Reynolds was dismayed to learn that Allan Ramsay had been made Principal Painter to the King. This marked the beginning of increasing hostility between Reynolds and the King. Nonetheless, by 1760 Reynolds had established himself as the leading portraitist. He became President of the Royal Academy in 1768 and was knighted the following year.
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  • Details
    Title
    Mary Bertie (née Panton), Duchess of Ancaster and Kesteven (d. 1793)
    Date
    Medium
    Mezzotint
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Colnaghi, March 1973
    Inscription
    below image: [in pencil] Her Grace Mary Dutchess of Ancaster and Kesteven
    GAC number
    10041