Portrait of a Lady attributed to Thomas Hudson

Artist: Attributed to Thomas Hudson 1701-1779.

Sitter: Probably Ann Cockayne-Cust, one of three daughters of Sir Richard Cust 2nd Baron Pinchbeck of Belton Hall, Derbyshire.

Date: c. 1755

Oil on canvas

Canvas size approx 62 x 73 cm 

Period carved wood frame.
Framed size;  85cm w x 96cm h

Provenance:   Marquis Henry de Falaise (Married actresss Gloria Swanson)

Christies Important British Pictures, March 24th 1978. Lot 61. There mis-attributed to Thomas Bardwell.

A Mayfair private collection.

N.B. Supporting photographic records identifying the painting are held at the National Gallery Archives, London.

Two National Portrait Gallery curators have annotated and signed the Christies 1974 catalogue description, amending the attribution to “Between Wright and Hudson”. (See the picture in this listing)

The sitter is depicted wearing a dress that is of similar appearance and composition for the portrait of her sister  Lucy and her sister Jane, both by Hudson and held by the National Trust. The dress may have been painted by of one of Hudson’s assistants such as drapery painters Peter Toms or Joseph van Aken. The familial resemblance of Hudson’s portrait of Lucy and the depiction of the similar attire supports the attribution.

Condition: Good. Professionally re-lined. Minor spots of historic restoration re-touches to background, as expected, visible under ultra-violet light inspection.

The artist:

Hudson was born in Devon in 1701. He studied under Jonathan Richardson in London.

Hudson was prolific between 1740 and 1760 and, from 1745 until 1755 was the most successful London portraitist. He had many assistants, and employed the specialist drapery painter Joseph Van Aken. Joshua Reynolds, Joseph Wright and the drapery painter Peter Toms were his students.

Hudson visited the Low Countries in 1748 and Italy in 1752. In 1753 he bought a house at Cross Deep, Twickenham, just upstream from Pope's Villa. He retired toward the end of the 1750s. William Hickey described the elderly Hudson, "His figure was uncommonly low in stature, with a prodigious belly, and constantly wearing a large white bushy periwig. He was remarkably good tempered, and one of my first-rate favourites, notwithstanding that he often told me I should certainly be hanged." He died at Twickenham in 1779. His extensive private art collection was sold off in three separate sales.

Many of Hudson's works may be seen in art galleries throughout the United Kingdom. They include the National Portrait Gallery,the National Maritime Museum, Tate, Barnstaple Guildhall, Foundling Museum and the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. The sitter’s sister Lucy has her portrait, also by Hudson, on display at Belton House, the 18th century Cockayne-Cust family residence acquired by the National Trust in the 20th century.