Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland
Bust
ca. 1699 (made)
ca. 1699 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bust representing Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland, was made by David le Marchand in England, in about 1699.
David Le Marchand (1674-1726) was famed for his ivory carvings, particularly his portraits. He was a native of Dieppe, France, and came from a Huguenot, or Protestant, family. With the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and the consequent persecution of non-Catholics, he had to flee France. He was next recorded in Edinburgh in 1696, where he is documented as receiving official permission to open a shop and take on apprentices. He was in London by 1700, when he started to achieve a reputation for his portraits. Despite his wide circle of important patrons and his evident success, Le Marchand apparently died in poverty, though the exact reasons for this are unknown
Anne Churchill was the second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who was also portrayed by Le Marchand (see cat. no. ** A.5-1950). Three portrait busts of her are known (see Avery 1996, pp. 66-7). None is dated, and Avery has speculated they may date from around the time of her wedding in 1699. Avery has also compared this bust to a later bust by Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) of Lady Margaret Cavendish-Holles-Harley (Avery 1999, loc. cit.). Horace Walpole recalled that Anne was the most beautiful of Sarah Churchill's 'four charming daughters’, and that she 'was a great politician' (cited in Avery 1996, p. 66).
David Le Marchand (1674-1726) was famed for his ivory carvings, particularly his portraits. He was a native of Dieppe, France, and came from a Huguenot, or Protestant, family. With the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and the consequent persecution of non-Catholics, he had to flee France. He was next recorded in Edinburgh in 1696, where he is documented as receiving official permission to open a shop and take on apprentices. He was in London by 1700, when he started to achieve a reputation for his portraits. Despite his wide circle of important patrons and his evident success, Le Marchand apparently died in poverty, though the exact reasons for this are unknown
Anne Churchill was the second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who was also portrayed by Le Marchand (see cat. no. ** A.5-1950). Three portrait busts of her are known (see Avery 1996, pp. 66-7). None is dated, and Avery has speculated they may date from around the time of her wedding in 1699. Avery has also compared this bust to a later bust by Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) of Lady Margaret Cavendish-Holles-Harley (Avery 1999, loc. cit.). Horace Walpole recalled that Anne was the most beautiful of Sarah Churchill's 'four charming daughters’, and that she 'was a great politician' (cited in Avery 1996, p. 66).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved ivory on a wooden socle |
| Brief description | Bust, carved ivory on a turned wooden socle, of Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland, by David le Marchand, Britain, ca. 1699 |
| Physical description | The bust portrait of Anne Churchill shows her facing frontally, her hair drawn back tightly and knotted at the back; she wears loose, thin drapery around her shoulders. It is signed on the back: 'DLM'. And there is an inscribed paper label on the underside of the wood socle. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Lt. Col. G. B. Croft-Lyons FSA |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Lt-Col G. B. Croft Lyons in 1926. Perhaps bought by him in 1918, judging from the abbreviated note on the paper label on the underside of the socle. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bust representing Anne Churchill, Countess of Sunderland, was made by David le Marchand in England, in about 1699. David Le Marchand (1674-1726) was famed for his ivory carvings, particularly his portraits. He was a native of Dieppe, France, and came from a Huguenot, or Protestant, family. With the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and the consequent persecution of non-Catholics, he had to flee France. He was next recorded in Edinburgh in 1696, where he is documented as receiving official permission to open a shop and take on apprentices. He was in London by 1700, when he started to achieve a reputation for his portraits. Despite his wide circle of important patrons and his evident success, Le Marchand apparently died in poverty, though the exact reasons for this are unknown Anne Churchill was the second daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who was also portrayed by Le Marchand (see cat. no. ** A.5-1950). Three portrait busts of her are known (see Avery 1996, pp. 66-7). None is dated, and Avery has speculated they may date from around the time of her wedding in 1699. Avery has also compared this bust to a later bust by Michael Rysbrack (1694-1770) of Lady Margaret Cavendish-Holles-Harley (Avery 1999, loc. cit.). Horace Walpole recalled that Anne was the most beautiful of Sarah Churchill's 'four charming daughters’, and that she 'was a great politician' (cited in Avery 1996, p. 66). |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.67-1926 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
