3rd Countess of Dysart, Grace Wilbraham

Sir Godfrey Kneller 1646-1723, was a German born British portrait painter. He was born in Leiden and studied under Bol and Rembrandt, before travelling to Rome, Venice, Hamburg and later England, where he was appointed 'Painter in Ordinary' to King Charles II. Kneller produced portraits on an almost industrial scale building a large workshop of pupil artists, he would sketch and paint the main features head and hands, as here, and leave the balance to his pupils, hair clothing and background. Whilst in England he produced something in the region of 900 portraits in a time frame of around 50 years or less. The sitter in this portrait is Grace Wilbraham who was promoted to Lady Dysart upon he marriage when her husband was entitled to the role of 3rd Earl of Dysart, he was Lionel Tollemache and well known to be particularly frugal with his expenses having incurred debt from his father's estate. Consequently Kneller's portraits were graded in cost relating the amount of exposure the sitter agreed to, the lower price of the sitting would relate to the minimal work engaged and therefore a full length portrait would generate the highest income and a head and shoulders without hands would have been the least expensive. Lionel Tollemache was true to his financial beliefs as shown here. This portrait originated from Helmingham Hall and was discovered within close proximity of the Hall in Suffolk. The painting has been conserved in the most professional, thorough and detailed manner, and I have enclosed the restoration pictures of the before and after for your information.