Jonathan Richardson, Sen. (1665-1745)

A portrait of Lady Mary Hervey, née Lepelle (1700-1768), head and shoulders within the memoir, 'Letters of Lady Mary Lepelle', 1821

Details

Jonathan Richardson, Sen. (1665-1745)
A portrait of Lady Mary Hervey, née Lepelle (1700-1768), head and shoulders within the memoir, 'Letters of Lady Mary Lepelle', 1821
signed with monogram 'JR.' (lower right) inscribed 'Mary Le pelle' [sic] and with inscription 'Lady Harvey [sic]' (lower left)
pencil and wash on vellum
4 7/8 x 4 ¼ in. (12.4 x 10.8 cm.); the drawing laid down on the fly leaf of 'Letters of Lady Mary Lepelle', 1821 with illustrative notes by John Wilson Croker in a contemporary binding of polished tan calf, spine fully gilt; joints expertly repaired

Provenance

Jonathan Richardson Jun. (L. 2170).
John Mitford, 1830.
Marquess of Crewe, after 1911.

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Lot Essay

Mary Lepelle was a famous court beauty who married John Hervey in secret in 25 October 1720. She was the daughter of Brigadier General Nicholas LePelle. Fairfax Murray identified a second drawing of Lady Mary Hervey by Richardson in the Morgan Library, New York, in the Bull album. John Wilson Croker, who edited the first edition of Mary Lepelle's Letters in which the present drawing is included, was a friend of John Mitford (1781-1859) to whom this book first belonged. Mitford formed an important book collection which was auctioned by Sotheby’s after his death in 1859 and realised the sum of £2,999.

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