Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1660-1744) [?] politician and courtier; wife of 1st Duke of Marlborough

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road

A young woman reclines in the grounds of an impressive estate. Her red dress and pale pink skin form a striking contrast to the cool, dark colours of the landscape around her.

The identity of the sitter in this work is uncertain. When the portrait was sold through Christie's in 1976 it was titled 'Portrait of a Lady, possibly Elizabeth, Duchess of Bridgewater'. The catalogue entry went on to explain that the work was '...previously called Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough. There is a portrait of the sitter in a white satin dress at Woburn Abbey (no. 203) and another at Blenheim called Lady Anne Chuchill.'

People

Sarah (née Jenyns), Duchess of Marlborough Churchill (1660 - 1744)

Places

Subjects

female portrait, landscape C18th, stone/rock, woman, 18th century costume, dress, Duchess

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Charles Jervas (c.1675 - 1739)

Title

Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough (1660-1744) [?] politician and courtier; wife of 1st Duke of Marlborough

Date

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 135.50 cm, width: 156.00 cm

Acquisition

Purchased from Christie's, 18 June 1976

Provenance

Collection of the Right Honourable John Francis Granville Scrope, Earl of Ellesmere, of Bridgewater House, Cleveland Square, St James's, London (and on loan to the Ministry of Works from 1961); sold by the trustees of the Ellesmere 1939 Settlement through Christie's, London, 'Important English Pictures' sale, on 18 June 1976 (Lot 117), as 'Portrait of a Lady, possibly Elizabeth, Duchess of Bridgewater'; from which sale purchased by the Department of the Environment

GAC number

12426