Robert Ffrench in a Green Coat and Blue Waistcoat - Batoni, Pompeo (Italian painter and draftsman, 1708-1787) (National Portrait Gallery, 1980)
'Inscribed on the reverse of the strecher: "Robert F. ffrench of Rahasane, Co. Galway / Father of Honoria, wife of Charles Joseph Chichester / of Calverleigh Co. Devon and Bally Griffen, Co. Cork / Charles and Honoria whose eldest son Joseph was father of Nugent (born 1827) to whom this / picture painted by Blake, in Rome 1754 was bequeathed by James Chistine (sic) Morrogh / of Oldcourt 1885 Co. Cork." This inscription which presumably dates from the bequest of 1885 is accurate except for the name of the artist and the full name of the sitter who must be Robert Hyacinth Emanuel ffrench of Rahasane, Member of Parliament for Galway and son of Robert ffrench of Rahasane (b. 1695, d. 1751), who married Elizabeth Nagle in 1758 and died in 1789. They had seven children of whom the fifth, Mary Honoria ffrench (b. 1765, d. 1831) married Charles Chichester of Calverleigh in 1791.' (National Portrait Gallery, 1980) This painting is signed and dated by the artist.
Keywords: ffrench, Robert Hyacinth Emanuel, of Rahasane; Art, Irish; Portrait painting, Italian; Portraits, Irish; Gentry Ireland Galway (County) History 18th century.; Clothing and dress History 18th century.; Grand tours (Education); 18th century