Frederick Hervey, Bishop of Derry and later 4th Earl of Bristol (1730-1803)
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1982-06-08Citation:
Greater London Council. Catalogue of 'Pompeo Batoni (1708-87) and his British Patrons'. The Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood, Hampstead Lane NW37JR, 8 June - 30 August 1982, Published by GLC. p 66, Cat. no. 34Download Item:
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'Frederick Hervey, one of the most fascinating men of his age, was without rival among Batoni's sitters for eccentricity and singularity. His ecclesiastical career was championed by his elder brother, Lord Bristol; in 1767 he was consecrated Bishop of Cloyne and on 18 February 1768 he was appointed to the See of Derry, the richest in Ireland. Hervey later identified himself entirely with the aspirations of Irish nationalism. As the letter which he holds in the portrait makes clear, he was a staunch friend to the suppressed Catholic majority, as well as to the nonconformists, and later pressed in Parliament for Catholic emancipation. He was totally opposed to the Act of Union, and after it was passed he lost interest in politics. The bishop is dressed in an Anglican surplice and, in place of the usual Roman monuments, is represented against the background of Derry Cathedral. Since the octagonal spire was built at his command, and was only completed in 1778, one can assume that his pride in his new achievement was the main reason behind this presentation; he must have brought with him to Rome a drawing of the spire for Batoni to copy. This is nevertheless a highly conservative portrait, rooted firmly in the tradition of British ecclesiastical portraiture, and its presentation may perhaps be regarded, in view of the Bishop's greater interest in the arts than in his diocese, as one of his many 'whims and inconsistencies'.' (Greater London Council, 66-67)Role:
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IrishDimensions/Extent:
137 cm x 101 cmMaterial (Support):
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paintingRole:
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Full text availablePeriod:
19th centuryMetadata
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