Portrait of John Smyth (1748-1811) of Heath Hall, Yorkshire
File Type:
JPEG imageItem Type:
ImageDate:
1995-06-12Citation:
Sotheby's, British Pictures 1500-1850, 12 July 1995, p 49, no 38Download Item:
cgjc0981.jpg (JPEG image) 259.4KbDescription:
'John Smyth IV, the sitter in this portrait, was educated at Westminster and Trinity College, Cambridge. He succeeded his father, John Smyth III in 1771 and set out soon afterwards on the Grand Tour. In 1778 he ran off with Lady Georgina Fitzroy, eldest daughter of Augustus, 3rd Duke of Grafton, the former Prime Minister, whose portrait by Batoni is in the National Portrait Gallery. Their marriage took place at St. George's Hanover Square, witnessed by Smyth's friend, Walter Spencer Stanhope of Cannon Hall. Smyth at once took his bride to Heath Hall from where he wrote to his friend thanking him 'for the friendly part you have taken in the happiest event of my life' and adding 'I must tell you this, that my Georgina likes this place very much, and for my own part, I never saw its beauties before'. Spencer-Stanhope and Smyth were both members of the Dilettani Society and are both shown in the first of the two great paintings of the members of the society by Reynolds. Smyth was the first member of his family to enter politics. He was M.P. for Pontefract from 1783 until 1807, and was member of the Admiralty Board 1791-94, Lord of Treasury 1794-1802, a Privy Councillor from 1802, Master of the Mint 1802-1804, and member of the Board of Trade 1805-1806. Smyth sat for this portrait aged 25 in 1773, a year in which Batoni painted at least twelve other English and Irish sitters, including ambitious full length portraits such as 'John Staples' (Museo di Roma) and 'Chetwynd Talbot, 1st Earl Talbot' (J. Paul Getty Museum).' (Sotheby's, 48)Role:
artistCulture:
BritishDimensions/Extent:
98.5 cm x 73 cmMaterial (Support):
canvasWork:
paintingRole:
artistType of material:
ImageAvailability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Smyth, John of Heath hall, YorkshirePeriod:
18th centuryLicences: