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Lot Essay
Sarah (1660-1744), daughter and co-heir of Richard Jennings of Sandridge, Hertfordshire, married John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough on 1 October 1678 and had seven children.
When Princess Anne (later Queen) married in 1683, she appointed Sarah, who had been attendant upon her in Mary of Modena's household, a Lady of the Bedchamber and her position as a Royal favourite was established. Sarah was renowned for her wit, beauty and character and her devotion to her husband and it was she who organised Anne's flight from her father in 1688. On Anne's accession, Sarah was appointed Groom of the Stole, Mistress of the Robes, and Keeper of the Privy Purse but her favour was usurped when the Queen's attentions were transferred to Abigail Masham, whose position at Court had been enabled by Sarah. In 1711, Sarah was dismissed from Court and the Marlboroughs lived in exile for the last two years of Anne's reign, only returning when the Queen was dying. The Duke died in 1722 and it was Sarah who completed the Palace of Blenheim at Woodstock.
The present work is after Sir Godfrey Kneller's bust-length portrait of the Duchess, dated 1691, now in the Spencer Collection at Althorp. A similar enamel was sold Christie's London, 24 May 2000, lot 104 and for another similar enamel, see H. A. Kennedy, 'Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch', The Studio, 1917 (Special Number), illustrated colour pl. LIX. For a variant of the sitter with blue stole signed by Christian Friedrich Zincke, see C. Lloyd and V. Remington, exhibition catalogue, Masterpieces in Little. Portrait Miniatures from the Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, London, 1996, no. 46, illustrated in colour p. 139.
According to the D. S. Lavender (Antiques) Ltd. invoice, the present miniature is signed. As no signature is visible on the obverse, it is possible that there is a signature on the counter-enamel which has not been inspected in preparation for this catalogue entry.
When Princess Anne (later Queen) married in 1683, she appointed Sarah, who had been attendant upon her in Mary of Modena's household, a Lady of the Bedchamber and her position as a Royal favourite was established. Sarah was renowned for her wit, beauty and character and her devotion to her husband and it was she who organised Anne's flight from her father in 1688. On Anne's accession, Sarah was appointed Groom of the Stole, Mistress of the Robes, and Keeper of the Privy Purse but her favour was usurped when the Queen's attentions were transferred to Abigail Masham, whose position at Court had been enabled by Sarah. In 1711, Sarah was dismissed from Court and the Marlboroughs lived in exile for the last two years of Anne's reign, only returning when the Queen was dying. The Duke died in 1722 and it was Sarah who completed the Palace of Blenheim at Woodstock.
The present work is after Sir Godfrey Kneller's bust-length portrait of the Duchess, dated 1691, now in the Spencer Collection at Althorp. A similar enamel was sold Christie's London, 24 May 2000, lot 104 and for another similar enamel, see H. A. Kennedy, 'Early English Portrait Miniatures in the Collection of the Duke of Buccleuch', The Studio, 1917 (Special Number), illustrated colour pl. LIX. For a variant of the sitter with blue stole signed by Christian Friedrich Zincke, see C. Lloyd and V. Remington, exhibition catalogue, Masterpieces in Little. Portrait Miniatures from the Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, London, 1996, no. 46, illustrated in colour p. 139.
According to the D. S. Lavender (Antiques) Ltd. invoice, the present miniature is signed. As no signature is visible on the obverse, it is possible that there is a signature on the counter-enamel which has not been inspected in preparation for this catalogue entry.