Lady Charles Spencer (1743-1812) portrait with a spaniel dog c.1767

Lady Charles Spencer (née Lady Mary Beauclerk), (1743-1812)
John Pott (fl.c.1767) after  Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)
Mezzotint
Published by Robert Sayer (1725-1794), Circa 1767
Framed
Measures: 27.3 cm x 37.4 cm (Sheet)
                   44.5 cm x 35 cm (Framed)

Portrait half length, sitter looking slightly to her right, holding a spaniel in her arms. Lettered beneath the image: "J. Reynolds pinxt." "J. Pott fecit"; "Publish'd as the Act directs. | Lady Charles Spencer | London, Printed for Robt. Sayer. Map & Printseller at No.53 in Fleet Street."

Provenance:
Bears a label for "W & P Evans (Established 1798), Picture restorers carvers and gilders and picture frame makers, 37 Beak Street, Regent Street (Late 18 Silver St, Golden Square), London"

A charming and well presented image of Lady Charles Spencer with her pet black spaniel dog. The sitter was the daughter 1st Baron Vere (1699–1781) and, therefore, a great-granddaughter of King Charles II  Her elder brother, Aubrey, became 5th Duke of St Albans. In 1762 she married Lord Charles Spencer (1740–1820) (younger son of Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough). Reynolds also depicted her in another portrait leading a horse.

Scarce. See British Museum 1830,0714.41 and Yale B1970.3.249. A similar print is also known, possibly the same plate but with a different publication line, which bears the name of the printmaker John Finlayson (circa 1730-circa 1776).