portrait of lady penelope herbert c1640 studio or circle of van dyck

Description

Oil on canvas in a magnificent and rare Sunderland, or auricular, frame.
This superb portrait is a period copy of van Dyck's lost original and was with the Dukes of Hamilton for centuries, and latterly in a Private Collection for the last 76 years.
LADY PENELOPE HERBERT, nee Naunton, later Countess of Pembroke. (1620-1647) In 1634 Penelope had married had married Paul, 2nd Viscount Bayning, who died aged 22 in 1638. Penelope, a year alter, married Philip, Lord Herbert, later Viscount Montgomery and Earl of Pembroke.
The Pembroke family were among van Dyck's most important patrons.
Penelope sat for van Dyck on a number of occasions, including for the original of this portrait, which is recorded in an engraving of it by Pierre Lombard for the 'Countesses' series of c.1660. A further version is at Burghley House, painted by Joan Carlisle (1606-1679).
This pose, three quarter length, turning to the viewer, is a characteristic pose employed by Rubens and van Dyck. The elegant hand gesture, as the sitter lightly touches a gauze scarf, features in a number of van Dyck's female portraits.
PROVENANCE:
* Probably James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, Hamilton Palace, before 1643, and thence by descent until their sale, Christie's, Hamilton Palace, 17 June 1882, lot 1085 bt. Duncan for £73 10s)
*Collection of Christopher Beckett Dennison, Grosvenor Street, London
*His sale, Christie's, London, 13 June 1885, lot 899
*Private Collection, UK, since 1942.
Literature
Hamilton Palace Inventory, circa 1643, no. 294, as 'One peice (sp) of the Lady Herbert to the knees with a scarfe flying over her shouldier (sp), a coppy (sp) after Sr Anthony'.
VERSO: Old inventory label; Hamilton Palace no. 11.
SIZE: including frame: 59 x 48 inches.
Canvas size: 49 x 39.5 inches. (124.8 x 97.7 cm)
Internal Ref: 9056