PORTRAIT OF MARY CHOLMLEY (1667-1748), WIFE OF NATHANIEL CHOMLEY, HALF-LENGTH, IN A BLUE DRESS WITH A BROWN WRAP, FEIGNED OVAL

THE SITTER WAS THE ONLY DAUGHTER AND HEIRESS TO THE WHITBY ESTATES OF SIR HUGH CHOLMLEY, 4TH BT. (1632-89), AND ANNE, DAUGHTER OF SPENCER COMPTON, 2ND EARL OF NORTHAMPTON (1601-43). MARY FIRST MARRIED NATHANIEL CHOLMLEY, A LONDON MERCHANT, IN 1687, AND AFTER HIS DEATH MARRIED NATHANIEL STEPHENS OF GRAVESEND. WHITBY ABBEY WAS SUPPRESSED DURING THE REFORMATION AND THE SITE WAS ACQUIRED BY THE CHOLMLEY FAMILY WHO EXTENDED THE ABBOT'S LODGINGS WITH A GRAND BANQUETING HOUSE IN 1672. THE BUILDING WAS EXPOSED IN ITS DRAMATIC SETTING LOOKING OUT OVER THE NORTH SEA AND HOWSHAM HALL, NEAR MALTON, BECAME THE CHOLMELY'S PRIME SEAT.