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PROPERTY FROM MOSTYN HALL LOTS 601-712 'Few houses have played a part in the history of Wales either longer or more illuminating than Mostyn Hall.' So wrote Richard Haslam in Country Life in 1985, while also describing its political role, patronage and even its interest in field sports as being a 'microcosm of Wales's history'. There has been a house on the site of Mostyn Hall, overlooking the Dee estuary on the north coast of Wales, for so long that it is now impossible to disentangle the building history of this site. The land was acquired in the early 15th Century through the marriage of Ieuan Fychan (d.c.1457) to Angharad, daughter and heiress of Hywel, son of Tudor ap Ithel Fychan of Mostyn. The surname Mostyn was adopted by Piers ap Richard, great-great-grandson of Hywel ap Tudor. The family became one of the most prominent and powerful in Wales, acquiring a baronetcy in 1660. The last baronet, Sir Thomas, died in 1831 and left the estate to his brother-in-law Sir Edward Pryce Lloyd (1768-1854), who was created Baron Mostyn in the same year. It was from Sir Edward Lloyd that the Mostyn family inherited 'The Mostyn Tompion', which had been taken as a perquisite on the death of William III in 1702, and which is now in the British Museum. The external appearance of Mostyn Hall today is largely the result of the early Victorian remodelling in 1846-47 by Ambrose Poynter for the 1st Lord Mostyn. Poynter retained and restored many elements of the medieval fabric. 'The task of repairing, rather than replacing, such a jumble of structures would have been beyond a neo-Classical architect, but Poynter drew out of the confusion an attractive Picturesque gruoping of the various elements, both old and new.' The last changes to the house before the 1840s' restoration had taken place between 1570 and 1630 and it is likely that Poynter's changes introduced a much needed logic to the exterior. The Trustees of the Mostyn Estates have recently reviewed many of the works of art that have been in store in the historic attics and have decided to dispose of those that are surplus to requirements, with the proceeds of any sales contributing to an ongoing program of restoration at Mostyn.

ATTRIBUTED TO MICHAEL DAHL (1659-1743)

PORTRAIT OF A LADY, PRESUMABLY OF THE MOSTYN FAMILY, THREE-QUARTER-LENGTH, IN A BLUE DRESS, RESTING HER LEFT ARM ON A TABLE

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ATTRIBUTED TO MICHAEL DAHL (1659-1743)
PORTRAIT OF A LADY, PRESUMABLY OF THE MOSTYN FAMILY, THREE-QUARTER-LENGTH, IN A BLUE DRESS, RESTING HER LEFT ARM ON A TABLE
oil on canvas
50 x 40 in. (127 x 106.6 cm.)
in a 17th Century Sunderland frame

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Lot Essay

The Swedish painter Michael Dahl was active in London 1682 and again from 1689 until his death in 1743. He secured the patronage of royality, politicians and aristocrats, rivalling Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) as the leading portraitist of the day.

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