W. John Griffiths Antiques

Description

A fine and decorative 18th Century Portrait of an aristocratic Lady, in the manner of Godfrey Kneller.
The sitter is believed to be Adelhida Talbot , Duchess Of Shrewsbury , 1660-1726.
Posed in the fashionable less formal manner wearing an expensive silk loose fitting dress ..... 'an open robe'... which became fashionable in the 1670's perhaps with the influence from the early trade links with China, complimented with rather sumptuous diamond jewels. She was outspoken about French ladies extreme fashions of the period and praised a simpler , practical hairstyle which she made fashionable , as shown here and also in a portrait by Kneller that remains at Ingestre Hall. Set in a good moulded gilt frame that is probably contemporary and may be the original .
Adelhida Talbot was a court official and wife of Charles Talbot, 1st Duke of Shrewsbury. She was the daughter of Marchese Andrea Paleotti and his wife Christina who was descended illegitimately from Dudley, 1st Duke Of Leicester.
First married to Count Roffendi who was in the service of Christina of Sweden and after being widowed met the Duke in Italy. They married in Augsburg Bavariain 1705 and she was subsequently naturalised by act of Parliament.
Upon their return to England she became known in London society and favoured by Queen Anne and King George I who arranged for her to become Lady of the Bedchamber to Caroline of Ansbach , Princess of Wales. She was apparently a somewhat controversial figure at court and jealous rivals commented on her lewd behaviour.
Shrewsbury and his wife had no children and at his death the Dukedom became extinct whilst the Earldom passed to Gilbert Talbot, the Duchess died some 8 years later in 1726.
Provenance: Private Collection in London.

ENGLISH 18th Century