Anna Countess of Leven
Medallion
ca. 1696 - ca. 1700 (made)
ca. 1696 - ca. 1700 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This ivory medallion, carved by David Le Marchand represents Anna Countess of Leven and is paired with one of her husband, David, Earl of Leven, whom she married on 3 September 1691. Their relatively simple style in shallow relief, suggests that they may date from the beginning of Le Marchand's career in Edinburgh, between 1696 and 1700.
Anna was the eldest daughter of Sir James Wemyss, Lord Burntisland (d. 1682), and Margaret, Countess of Wemyss (d. 1705), and sister of David, 3rd Earl of Wemyss. Her parents married in 1672 and she was the third of five children, so she was presumably born c. 1675. She married David, Earl of Leven on 3 September 1641.
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. He is recognised as the most distinguished ivory carver to have worked in England in the early 18th century, a period when the art enjoyed a popularity unknown since the Middle Ages.
Historical significance:
Anna was the eldest daughter of Sir James Wemyss, Lord Burntisland (d. 1682), and Margaret, Countess of Wemyss (d. 1705), and sister of David, 3rd Earl of Wemyss. Her parents married in 1672 and she was the third of five children, so she was presumably born c. 1675. She married David, Earl of Leven on 3 September 1641.
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. He is recognised as the most distinguished ivory carver to have worked in England in the early 18th century, a period when the art enjoyed a popularity unknown since the Middle Ages.
Historical significance:
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Anna Countess of Leven (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Ivory in relief |
| Brief description | Medallion relief, ivory, of Anna, Countess of Leven, by David Le Marchand, Britain, ca. 1669-1700 |
| Physical description | The sitter is facing left. She wears a wig and a draped dress with a deep neckline. Inscription. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'ANNA COVNTESS OF LEVEN / D.L.M.F.' (around the upper circumference) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Dr W. L. Hildburgh F. S .A., 1956 |
| Object history | Bequeathed by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1956. Formerly in the collection of S. Hand Esq., and sold at Sotheby's, London, 3 November 1955, lot 9, for £10. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This ivory medallion, carved by David Le Marchand represents Anna Countess of Leven and is paired with one of her husband, David, Earl of Leven, whom she married on 3 September 1691. Their relatively simple style in shallow relief, suggests that they may date from the beginning of Le Marchand's career in Edinburgh, between 1696 and 1700. Anna was the eldest daughter of Sir James Wemyss, Lord Burntisland (d. 1682), and Margaret, Countess of Wemyss (d. 1705), and sister of David, 3rd Earl of Wemyss. Her parents married in 1672 and she was the third of five children, so she was presumably born c. 1675. She married David, Earl of Leven on 3 September 1641. 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. He is recognised as the most distinguished ivory carver to have worked in England in the early 18th century, a period when the art enjoyed a popularity unknown since the Middle Ages. Historical significance: |
| Associated object | A.123-1956 (Pair) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.124-1956 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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