THE DUCHESS OF ST ALBANS - BY JOHN FABER AFTER SIR GODFREY KNELLER.

Mezzotint portrait of Diana Beauclerk (née de Vere), Duchess of St Albans by John Faber Jr, mezzotint, early 18th century. Titled [Her Grace the Duchess of St. Albans] [graphic] / G. Kneller bart. pinxt. ; J. Faber fec. ; J. Cooper exc.

Diana Beauclerk (née de Vere), Duchess of St Albans (circa 1679-1742), Courtier, beauty and Mistress of the Robes; wife of 1st Duke of St Albans. Sitter in 4 portraits.

Portrait standing whole-length next to an orange tree, left foot raised on the plinth below it, left arm resting on the large urn in which the tree is planted, holding a fruit and gesturing towards it with the other hand, smiling towards the viewer; from a series of thirteen plates after Kneller.

The paintings of court 'beauties' had been commissioned from Godfrey Kneller by Queen Mary in 1689 (in emulation of the series made by Lely for her mother). After studying in Amsterdam under Rembrandt and Bol and in Rome under Bernini and Maratta, Kneller had come to Britain in 1676 to see Van Dyck's work, and had soon become the country's leading portrait-painter. In 1692 he was knighted; and in 1711 he set up the first Academy of art in Britain.

During his lifetime Kneller took great interest in engravings after his work. The present set were made after his death, and were among John Faber's most celebrated mezzotints. After Faber's death the plates were acquired by John Boydell.

The plates are captioned, and show: [1] 'Serenissima Maria D.G. Angl: Scot: Fran: et Hib: Regina'; [2] 'The Rt. Honble: the Countess of Essex'; [3] 'The Honble. Lady Midelton'; [4] 'The Right Honble. the Countess of Clarendon'; [5] 'Her Grace the Dutchess of St. Albans'; [6] 'Her Grace the Dutchess of Grafton'; [7] The Rt. Honble. the Countess of Peterborough'; [8] 'The RtHonble: the Countess of Ranelagh'; [9] 'Her Grace the Dutchess of Manchester'; [10] 'The Rt. Honble: the Countess of Dorset'; [11] 'Her Grace the Dutchess of Marlborough'; [12] 'Mrs. Scroop'.

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Image size: Approx  17.5” x 13.5” / 45cm x 35cm.                  Framed size: 18.5” x 23” / 47cm x 58.5cm

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