Details
HENRY PIERCE BONE (BRITISH, 1779-1855)
Barbara Villiers, Countess of Castlemaine, later Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709)
Signed, dated and inscribed on the counter-enamel ‘Duchess of Cleveland / London Feby 1843. Painted by / Henry Pierce Bone Enamel Pain- / ter to her Majesty & H.R.H. Prince / Albert &c. From the Original by / Lely in the Collection of Earl / Spencer Althorp / Northamptonshire’
Enamel on copper
Oval, 105 mm. high, rectangular gilt-metal frame

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Peter Horwood
Peter Horwood

Lot Essay

The sitter was the most famous of the mistresses of King Charles II. Ambitious and flamboyant, she established a position of influence at court and advised the king, often undermining his consort Catherine of Braganza, on political and financial matters. She had six children but the King did not acknowledge all of them as his own.

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