Lionel Cranfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset (1688-1765) politician and courtier

  • About the work
    Location
    Country: UK
    City: London
    Place: Government Art Collection
  • 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
    Lionel Cranfield Sackville, 1st Duke of Dorset (1688-1765) politician and courtier
    Date
    1756
    Medium
    Oil on canvas
    Dimensions
    height: 76.50 cm, width: 64.00 cm
    Acquisition
    Purchased from Mr R B Beckett, October 1955
    Inscription
    None
    Provenance
    Collection of socialite Lady (Henrietta) Cecilia Johnston (née West; 1727-1817); by whom presented to George Simon Harcourt, 2nd Earl Harcourt (1736-1809) of Newenham (Nuneham) Courtenay, Oxfordshire, by 1806; by descent to William Edward Harcourt, 2nd Viscount Harcourt (1908-1979) of Nuneham Park, Oxfordshire; by whom sold through Christie's, London, 'Pictures by Old Masters and Historical Portraits' sale, on 11 June 1948 (Lot 164), for £12.12.0; from which sale purchased by R. B. Beckett; by whom presented to the Ministry of Works in October 1955
    GAC number
    3331