Robert (1715) Hunter Paintings & Artwork for Sale | Robert (1715) Hunter Art Value Price Guide

Oct. 18, 2022
ROBERT HUNTER (C. 1715/20-1801) Portrait of George Rochfort (1738-1815), later 2nd Earl of Belvedere Shown Seated at a Desk, Quill in Hand and Accompanied by his Dog Oil on canvas, 127 x 102 Among Robert Hunters most loyal early pat
Est: €8,000 - €12,000
ROBERT HUNTER (C. 1715/20-1801) Portrait of George Rochfort (1738-1815), later 2nd Earl of Belvedere Shown Seated at a Desk, Quill in Hand and Accompanied by his Dog Oil on canvas, 127 x 102 Among Robert Hunters most loyal early patrons was the Rochfort family, Earls of Belvedere. He painted Robert, the 1st Earl (1708-74) in peers robes, presumably, as Anne Crookshank suggested, on the occasion of his elevation to the earldom in 1756 (Christie's, Belvedere House Sale, 9 July 1980, lot 272). Robert Rochfort is, of course, known to history as the Wicked Earl, notorious for the cruelty of his response to his wife's confession of adultery with his younger brother, Arthur. As is well known, Lady Belvedere, née Mary Molesworth, was locked up at Gaulstown for much of the remainder of her life, only being released on her husbands death, in 1774, by her son who is shown here. George the 2nd Earl had not seen his mother since childhood and, as she emerged from captivity, she initially did not recognize her son. Dressed in the fashions of thirty years earlier she had, perhaps not surprisingly, acquired a wild, scared, unearthly look, whilst the tones of her voice, which hardly exceeded a whisper were harsh, agitated and uneven. But eventually in fearful accents she faltered out is the tyrant dead Here Hunter paints George, the 2nd Earl, the eldest son of this unhappy pair; naturally doubts were expressed about the paternity of his younger brothers. This is the third recorded portrait of the 2nd Earl by Hunter. He was painted in a double portrait with his cousin Mr Handcock (Anne Crookshank, Robert Hunter, Irish Arts Review Yearbook, 1989-90 pp 184-85, No. 77) and also in an engaging portrait showing him in volunteers uniform accompanied by his wife, Jane, daughter of Rev. James Mackay (Christies, 17 May 2002, lot 27, GB£149,650) (fig 1). The 2nd Earl was Member of Parliament for Philipstown (1759-60) and then for Westmeath (1761-8; 1768-75). He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Belvedere in 1774. He served as High Sheriff of Westmeath (1762), Governor of Westmeath (1772-3) and joint Governor of Westmeath (1774-1800) and Trustee of the Linen Board from 1779 until his death. Sadly, all of the couples children died in infancy and on the 2nd Earl's death his titles became extinct. The present work shows a soberly dressed George as an amiable, rather fresh-faced, young man seated at desk with his books and a quill in his hand as if about to write; the scroll of the chair is typical of Irish seat furniture of the decade 1740-50. George is accompanied by the adoring dog which is such a hallmark motif of Hunters portraiture, appearing, for example, in the well-known portrait of Peter la Touche in the National Gallery of Ireland. The painting very likely dates from the same moment as Hunters portrait of his father which, if the dating of that work to 1756 is correct, would make him a young man of eighteen. The leading Dublin-based portrait painter of the 1760s and 1770s, Robert Hunter was a prolific exhibitor at the Society of Artists in Dublin, sending a total of ninety works to its shows, all of which were portraits, except his very first exhibit, Susannah and the Elders, a subject which reminds that in 1755 he had won a premium of fifty pounds as the best performer in history painting. A major figure in the Dublin art world, Hunter was described in one nineteenth-century source as a walking chronicle of everything relative to the Irish artists and arts. However, little is known of his life. Anthony Pasquin writing in 1796 states that he was born in Ulster and 'studied principally under Mr. Pope Senior. One of the most appealing of Hunters works to appear on the market since the important group depicting the King family (Adams, Slane Castle, 6 October 2009, lots 69-74), it shows an important Irish aristocratic politician and the product of one of the least happy marriages in Irish history.
Adam's
Dec. 08, 2021
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of a gentleman, likely Geo
Est: £50,000 - £80,000
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of a gentleman, likely George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere... oil on canvas 56 x 82 in. (142.2 x 208.3 cm.)
Christie's
Dec. 08, 2021
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of Richard Rochfort (1740-
Est: £20,000 - £30,000
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of Richard Rochfort (1740-1776), three-quarter-length, in his uniform... oil on canvas 50 x 40 in. (127 x 101.6 cm.)
Christie's
Dec. 08, 2021
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of Robert Rochfort, 1st Ea
Est: £15,000 - £20,000
ROBERT HUNTER (ULSTER ACTIVE 1748-1780) Portrait of Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere (1708-1774),... oil on canvas 50 x 40 in. (127 x 101.6 cm.)
Christie's
Oct. 16, 2018
ROBERT HUNTER (1715 - 1780)A portrait of Capt. Edward O'Brien, three-quarter length, holding a musket in the uniform of the 52nd Regiment of Foot, standing against a landscape, a line of infantry firing a valley against an advisoryOil on canvas, 12
Est: €30,000 - €50,000
ROBERT HUNTER (1715 - 1780)A portrait of Capt. Edward O'Brien, three-quarter length, holding a musket in the uniform of the 52nd Regiment of Foot, standing against a landscape, a line of infantry firing a valley against an advisoryOil on canvas, 126 x 102cm Provenance: Dromoland Castle Auction, December 1962, Main Bedroom, Lot 945, as by Wheatley; Private Collection Edward OBrien (c.1735 - 1787) was the third son of Sir Edward OBrien 2nd Baronet of Dromland and Mary Hickman. A portrait of him and titled Master Edward OBrien by Philip Hussey was exhibited with the Irish Portraits 1660 - 1860 Dublin, London and Belfast 1970, Cat no. 31. His ambition was to be a solider but there was no money to buy a Cornecy of Dragoons until 1759. A riding accident prevented his joining Corps being raised to go to America. He became a Captain in the 122nd Regiment and then exchanged (costing £379 - 3 - 4) into the 52nd Regiment. He married his cousin Charlotte Hickman of Brickhall, Co. Clare.With his easy-going spendthrift nature and love of horses, it is easy to see why he was his fathers favourite son. Although his father had left him Jockey Hall on the Curragh, he was not able to provide for his family and appealed to his more serious brother, Lucius, for help who assigned him a life interest in lands at Leamanagh and organised his return to military service. However, he forbade him from leaving the kingdom, thereby again preventing him going to America where he thought he could distinguish himself. He died in 1787 with the rank of colonel.
Adam's
Jan. 23, 2018
ROBERT HUNTER, (BRITISH C.1715-C.1803), PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE
Est: $1,000 - $1,500
ROBERT HUNTER (british c.1715-c.1803) PORTRAIT OF A GENTLEMAN AND HIS WIFE Each signed and dated ' R. Hunter pinxit 1760' bottom left, pair oils on panel Each: 10 1/2 x 8 in. (26.7 x 20.3cm) (2) provenance: Property of a New York City Lady. note: The former portrait inscribed in ink on paper label verso, 'Robert Hunter/Portrait of a Man and His Wife/Signed and dated 1760/Robert Hunter was the fashionable portrait painter in Dublin about the middle of the 18th century.'
Freeman's | Hindman
Oct. 11, 2016
ROBERT HUNTER (fl. 1752-1803)A Portrait of Sir Robert King, created Baron Kingsborough, died 1755Oil on canvas, c. 238 x 142cm (93 x 56)Illustrated in catalogue Town & Country Auctioneers 27/28 Clare St 19/20 March 1959Sold £40.00Robert King
Est: €20,000 - €30,000
ROBERT HUNTER (fl. 1752-1803)A Portrait of Sir Robert King, created Baron Kingsborough, died 1755Oil on canvas, c. 238 x 142cm (93 x 56)Illustrated in catalogue Town & Country Auctioneers 27/28 Clare St 19/20 March 1959Sold £40.00Robert King 1724-1755 M.P. for Boyle succeeding Richard Wingfield, succeeded as 4th baronet in 1740 and was made Baron Kingsborough at the age of 23 in 1747, having fought a notorious duel with Captain Johnston. He borrowed the large sum of £40,000, became Grand Master of the Freemasons, set the family up in Henrietta Street and lived with a mistress, Mrs. Jones. He died unmarried and his will was bitterly contested by his surviving brothers as far as the House of Lords in London, Edward claimed that Kingsborough was subjected to undue influence by Mrs. Jones, a common prostitute, and that the will was witnessed by a drunken porter and a Swiss servant, all such being scoundrels.
Adam's
Mar. 01, 2016
Robert Hunter (Irish, 1715-1803)
Est: €3,000 - €5,000
A portrait of Simon, 1st Earl Harcourt (1714-1777) wearing a red jacket Oil on canvas In a painted oval Contained in the original eighteenth-century carved wood frame Provenance: By direct family descent from the sitterSimon Harcourt, only son of the Hon. Simon Harcourt, succeeded to the family titles and estates in 1727. He was educated at Westminster School. He was appointed Lord of the Bedchamber to George II in 1735. He was created Count Harcourt in 1737. In 1751 he was appointed Tutor to the Prince of Wales (later George III). He was made a General and saw action at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. He was Lord Chamberlain of the Queen’s Household in 1763. He was made Ambassador to France in 1768. From 1772-1777 he was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was a founder member of the Society of Dilettanti and was a keen architect, designing some of the buildings at the family country seat, Nuneham Courtney, Oxfordshire. Lord Harcourt was a patron of the landscape painter Thomas Roberts (see Lot 265). Other versions of this portrait are held in the National Gallery of Ireland and the Ulster Museum.
Sheppards
Sep. 22, 2015
ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT HUNTER, FL. 1752-1803
Est: €2,000 - €3,000
ATTRIBUTED TO ROBERT HUNTER, FL. 1752-1803Portrait of a gentleman wearing a blue jacketOil on canvas, within an eighteenth-century carved gilt wood frameDirect all shipping enquiries to shipping@sheppards.ie
Sheppards
Mar. 05, 2015
Attributed to Robert Hunter of Ireland (Irish, fl.1748-1780) - Portrait of Dr John Rose of County Limerick - oil on canvas in a period
Est: £5,000 - £10,000
Attributed to Robert Hunter of Ireland (Irish, fl. 1748–1780) Portrait of Dr John Rose of County Limerick and his grandson Joseph Rose (1749-1833) both full length, wiht an African grey parrot, in a landscape with a gazebo in a formal garden to the right oil on canvas in a period carved wood frame h:185 w: 149 cm Provenance: By descent from the sitters to Gertrude Maria Rose of Bath, great-great grandmother of the present owner. Dr John Rose was the youngest son of Hugh Rose, 14th Laird of Kilravock, by his second wife, The Hon. Mary Forbes. His date of birth is uncertain but was before 1687 when his own father, Hugh Rose, died. He settled in Ireland where he practised as a physician and had an only son, also John. Joseph Rose, who followed in his grandfather's profession, was later physician to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and is reputed to have declined a knighthood. The Property of a Gentleman of Title
Cheffins
Nov. 22, 2014
Robert Hunter Case Western Painting
Est: $75 - $125
Robert Hunter Case (N.Y. b. 1909), Western landscape, oil on canvas, dated 1938. Some damage. Painting 25" x 34".
Copake Auction Inc.
Feb. 24, 2014
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) PORTRAIT OF HARRY HOUGHTON, 1790
Est: €2,000 - €3,000
signed and dated lower left
Whyte's
Dec. 02, 2012
Robert Howard Hunter
Est: $2,000 - $3,000
Robert Howard Hunter (South Carolina, b. 1929) SOLAR FIELD, 1975 acrylic, framed, signed & dated: on verso H45" W45" Provenance: Florence, South Carolina private collection. Purchased from the artist Literature: Morris, Jack, CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Greenville, SC: Greenville County Museum of Art, 1970, pp.110-114. Other Notes: Robert H. Hunter belongs to a prestigious group of South Carolina artist-educators working in the 3rd quarter of the 20th century including fellow Clemson professor John Acorn, The College of Charleston's William Halsey, Claflin's Arthur Rose, USC's Edmund Yaghjian, Bob Jones' Carl Blair and numerous others. Each of these teachers influenced generations of artists and through their presence on campus, exposing thousands of students to visual art. A deeply experimental artist influenced by the architectural and engineering programs, Hunter often utilized cutting edge materials. He was honored with a retrospective in 1994 at Clemson's Lee Gallery and the South Carolina State Museum.
Charlton Hall
Jul. 14, 2011
Attributed to Robert Hunter (Ulster 1715/20-after 1803 Dublin)
Est: £700 - £1,000
Attributed to Robert Hunter (Ulster 1715/20-after 1803 Dublin) Portrait of Edward O'Brien, three-quarter-length, in a green coat and pink waistcoat and buff breeches, holding a gun in his right hand with his spaniel beside him, leaning against a tree in a landscape signed and dated 'E[d] O'Brien Esq Aetatis 34. A.D. 1766' (lower left) oil on canvas 50 x 40 1/8 in. (127 x 102 cm.)
Christie's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait most
Est: €50,000 - €80,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait most likely to be William Stewart of Killymoon married to Isabella King, standing 3/4 length with his dog and gun and holding a partridge, in a landscape with dead game. Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.108 ú25 "Gallery" Provenance: Rockingham House For some reason this portrait acquired a family attribution of The 2nd Earl of Shannon. This is so unlikely that it can be dismissed. The Boyles were political foes of The Kings, and also 1740s is the wrong date for the Earl of Shannon for a man aged about forty. When, for the first time, the King portraits were lined up for inspection it was apparent that the present lot was of a man older than the others. Hunter's commission was obviously to depict the whole family and his charming portrait of Eleanor with her son James Stewart begs the logic that her husband, brother in law and political supporter of the Kings would also be included. Stewart was thirty-eight in 1748 and had been married to Eleanor in 1740. He advanced his family, was MP for Co. Tyrone, laid out Cookstown and died in his house at Abbey Street in Dublin in 1797. We have not found an existing image of Stewart to compare but circumstantially there is a strong case that this is indeed William Stewart.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (fl. 1752-1803) A double portrait of
Est: €50,000 - €80,000
Robert Hunter (fl. 1752-1803) A double portrait of Eleanor King, daughter of Sir Henry King and sister of Edward 1st Earl of Kingston, with her son James Stewart (of Killymoon) holding a dog. Oil on canvas, 125 x 100cm Exhibited: Ulster Museum, Nov. 1999, James Stewart of Killymoon, An Irishman on the Grand Tour. Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.109 ú75 "Gallery" Provenance: Rockingham House
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of
Est: €8,000 - €12,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Edward, Baron Kingston (1764) standing in peers robes. Oil on canvas, 125 x 100cm (Restored after the fire in Rockingham) This shows Edward in his maturity having been created an Earl. Interestingly it confirms his continuing appreciation of Hunter. Professor Crookshank comments on his peers robes being dirty but this is probably explained by its rescue from the dining room. Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.111 ú35 "Staircase" Provenance: Rockingham House
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait almost
Est: €30,000 - €50,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait almost certainly of Anne King, daughter of Sir Henry King and sister of 1st Earl of Kingston, married John 'Diamond' Knox of Castlerea, Co. Mayo, seated three-quarter length in a blue silk lace trimmed dress, a basket of flowers to her left Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.108 ú120 "Dining Room" Provenance: Rockingham House Anne married 1750 John " Diamond" Knox of County Mayo, a rich and independent character and part of the Gore political group in parliament. The government urged Lord Kingston to bring him into line but in 1772 he supported John Ponsonby against Townshend. This portrait was traditionally called Jane Caulfield, the wife of Kingston. However it is obviously part of the same commission and the marriage was much later, so it is reasonable to conclude that this is the remaining sister, Anne. An old attribution to Slaughter is explained by the training Hunter had from that artist and although of precocious talent his style was not yet set.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) A portrait of
Est: €30,000 - €50,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) A portrait of Isabella King, daughter of Sir Henry King and sister of 1st Earl of Kingston, wife of Thomas, Earl of Howth, standing three quarter length, as a shepherdess, holding a houette and a pet lamb. Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.109 ú100 "Gallery" Provenance: Rockingham House Exhibited: National Gallery, Dublin 1969, Itish Portraits 1660-1860 (43) Isabella married Thomas St. Lawrence in 1750 afterwards Baron Howth and made Earl of Howth in 1767. She died 1794.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of
Est: €40,000 - €60,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Frances, daughter of Sir Henry King and sister of Edward 1st Earl of Kingston, seated, wearing a grey silk dress and a blue sash, holding a rose Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cms Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.109 ú120 "Gallery" Provenance: Rockingham House Frances married Hans Wood of Rosemead, Co. Meath.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Henry
Est: €40,000 - €60,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Henry King, Later Rt. Hon. Colonel, three-quarter length standing in a landscape, in a red velvet coat, yellow waistcoat with a sporting dog Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cms Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.111 ú20 "Staircase" Provenance: Rockingham House Henry King 1733 - d. 1821, M.P. for Boyle. Although in dispute with his brother over Lord Kingston's will he supported his brother's interest in parliament for the 40 years that he was a member. He married to advantage Elizabeth Gore, daughter of Annesley Gore and inherited estates in Sligo and his wife's interest in Ballina, hence King Street. He appears in the celebrated "Knox" (his brother in law) sporting screen by Roper alongside his father in law (see Irish Arts Review where he is confused with his brotehr Kingston) He was active in the 1798 Rebellion.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir
Est: €50,000 - €70,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir Edward King, later 1st Earl Kingston, three-quarter length standing, in a landscape, holding a sporting gun and with his dog Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.111 ú50 "Gallery" Provenance: Rockingham House Exhibited: Municipal Gallery, Dublin 1957, Paintings from Irish Collections (162). National Gallery, Dublin 1969, Irish Portraits 1660-1860 (43) as Sir Robert King, Bt. Edward King b. 1726 - d. 1797, succeeded his brother as 5th baronet, M.P. for Boyle and was made Baron Kingston 1764 (of the second creation) Viscount in 1766, Earl 1768. He married Jane Caufield of Dumanon in 1752, and his prominence was due to his friendship with Lord Townshend, the Lord Lieutenant.
Adam's
Oct. 06, 2009
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir
Est: €50,000 - €70,000
Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait of Sir Robert King, later 1st (and last) Baron Kingsborough Three-quarter length standing, in red coat embroidered waistcoat, with sword, and holding a tricorn hat Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm In a fine carved giltwood rococo frame of the period Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.108 ú75 "Dining Room" as Sir Edward King, 1st Earl Kingston Provenance: Rockingham House Robert King 1724-1755 M.P. for Boyle succeeding Richard Wingfield, succeeded as 4th baronet in 1740 and was made Baron Kingsborough at the age of 23 in 13/06/1748, having fought a notorious duel with Captain Johnston. He borrowed the large sum of ú40,000, became Grand Master of the Freemasons, set the family up in Henrietta Street and lived with a mistress, Mrs. Jones. He died unmarried and his will was bitterly contested by his surviving brothers as far as the House of Lords in London, Edward claimed that Kingsborough was subjected to undue influence by Mrs. Jones, a common prostitute, and that the will was witnessed by a drunken porter and a Swiss servant, all such being scoundrels.
Adam's
May. 07, 2009
Attributed to Robert Hunter (1715/20-after 1803)
Est: £10,000 - £15,000
Attributed to Robert Hunter (1715/20-after 1803) Portrait of General Eyre Massey, Governor of Limerick, Marshal of the Army in Ireland, subsequently 1st Baron Clarina (1719-1804), three-quarter-length, in uniform oil on canvas 49½ x 40 in. (125.7 x 101.6 cm.)
Christie's
Oct. 30, 2008
Robert Hunter , Ulster active 1752 - 1803 Dublin Portrait of the Rt. Hon. John Ormsby Vandeleur of Kilrush (1765-1828), when a boy oil on canvas
Est: £3,000 - £5,000
half length, seated, wearing a green coat, a book in his right hand signed with monogram and dated l.l.: 1783 oil on canvas
Sotheby's
Jun. 05, 2008
Robert Hunter , fl.1752-1803 Portrait of Edward Michael Pakenham, 2nd Baron Longford (1743-1792) oil on canvas
Est: £10,000 - £15,000
full-length, standing in a coastal landscape with a spaniel and a British Man-o-War beyond inscribed on label, (verso); Edward Michael/ 2nd Baron Longford/ Born 1743 Died 1792 oil on canvas
Sotheby's
May. 07, 2008
Robert Hunter , fl.1752-1803 Portrait of the Rt. Hon. John Ormsby Vandeleur of Kilrush (1765-1828), when a boy oil on canvas
Est: £5,000 - £7,000
half length, seated, wearing a green coat, a book in his right hand signed with monogram and dated l.l.: 1783 oil on canvas
Sotheby's
May. 07, 2008
Robert Hunter , fl.1752-1803 Portrait of Hercules Rowley, 2nd Viscount Langford (1737-1796) oil on canvas
Est: £6,000 - £8,000
full-length, seated holding a book in his right hand, in an extensive woodland landscape oil on canvas
Sotheby's
Nov. 22, 2007
Robert Hunter fl.1752-1803 , Portrait of a nobleman, probably Nicholas Loftus, Viscount Loftus of Ely (c.1687-1763) oil on canvas
Est: £4,000 - £6,000
three-quarter length, seated, wearing a blue velvet jacket and with red robes of office under his left arm oil on canvas
Sotheby's
May. 13, 2004
ROBERT HUNTER FL.1752-1803
Est: £25,000 - £35,000
oil on canvas PORTRAIT OF JAMES FITZGERALD, 20TH EARL OF KILDARE (1722-1773), LATER 1ST DUKE OF LEINSTER THREE-QUARTER LENGTH, STANDING IN A LANDSCAPE, WEARING A BLUE COAT WITH GOLD TRIM, AND BROWN WAISTCOAT, HOLDING A TRICORN HAT IN HIS LEFT HAND
Sotheby's
May. 17, 2002
Robert Hunter (fl.1752-1803)
Est: $43,800 - $73,000
Group portrait of George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere, and his second wife Jane, daughter of Rev. James Mackay, the latter holding a baby in her arms, three-quarter-length, seated on a sofa, the former in Volunteer uniform, in an interior with a dog at their feet oil on canvas 52 x 61 in. (132 x 155 cm.) PROVENANCE by inheritance in the family of the sitter through the sitter's widow Jane, daughter of Rev. James Mackay, who married secondly Abraham Boyd, whose son George Augustus-Boyd, of Middleton Park, Co. Westmeath, inherited from his mother a great portion of the Belvedere estates NOTES George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere was the elder son of Robert Rochfort (1708-1772), 1st Earl of Belvedere, and his second wife Mary, eldest daughter of Richard, 2nd Viscount Molesworth, who married in 1736. The Rochfort family was the richest and most powerful family in Co. Westmeath in the 18th Century. The sitter's great-grandfather, Robert Rochfort (1652-1726), had amassed enormous riches as a Williamite Attorney General, and had become Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1707. The sitter's grandfather, the Rt. Hon. George Rochfort, of Gaulstown (for whom see lot 25) was a political magnate holding a sinecure in the Exchequer Court. The sitter's father, whose mother Lady Elizabeth was the younger daughter of the Henry, 3rd Earl of Drogheda, was elevated to the Irish Peerage in 1737, as Baron of Bellfield, advanced to the Viscountcy of Bellfield in 1751, and was created Earl of Belvedere in 1756. The family lived at Gaulstown, Co. Westmeath, which was well known for its canal, formal gardens and statuary. The 1st Earl, known as 'the Wicked Earl', also built Belvedere House, a small Palladian villa, designed by Richard Castle (c. 1690-1751), on a hill overlooking Lough Ennell, some six miles from the family house, to take advantage of the picturesque lakeside scenery in the early 1740s. He is, however, perhaps remembered most for the notorious cruelty of his response to his wife's confession of adultery with his younger brother, Arthur, confining her to an almost solitary existence at Gaulstown for the remainder of her life and suing his brother for adultery and subsequently allowing the latter to languish in a debtors prison, unforgiven, until his death. Like his father, George Rochfort, pursued a political career and was Member of Parliament for Philipstown (1759-60) and then for Westmeath (1761-8; 1768-75). He succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Belvedere in 1774. He was also High Sheriff of Co. Westmeath (1762), Governor of Westmeath (1772-3) and joint Governor of Westmeath (1774-1800) and Trustee of the Linen Board to Connaught from 1779 until his death. He also formed the first Corps of Volunteers in 1777 and was the first reviewing General of a volunteer force consisting of one thousand infantry and six hundred cavalry. In this portrait he is shown with his second wife Jane, daughter of Rev. James Mackay. They are recorded as having had three children, all of whom died in their infancy, and on the 2nd Earl's death, without a male heir, the title became extinct. His wife, however, married, as her second husband, in 1815, Abraham Boyd, Kings Counsel, by whom she had a son, George-Augustus Boyd, of Middleton Park, Co. Westmeath, who inherited from his mother a great part of the Belvedere estates. Robert Hunter was for thirty years the most important painter of the Irish establishment, continuing in the tradition of portraiture established in Dublin by James Latham and Philip Hussey, however, little is known of his life. Anthony Pasquin writing in 1796, in the artist's lifetime, said that he was born in Ulster and 'studied principally under Mr. Pope Senior' (A. Pasquin, Memoirs of the Royal Academicians and an authentic History of the Artist's of Ireland, London, 1796, p. 13). William Carey, a reliable Cork critic, comments that he was 'intimate with Madden and Prior' which makes it likely that he was born at some point around 1715/20. He was certainly already a painter of repute by 1753 when he painted the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Sir Charles Burton. His portraiture borrows heavily from several English artists most notably the work of Thomas Hudson and Sir Joshua Reynolds which might suggest that he visited England, however, there is no record of such a trip. This double portrait is one of the artist's most ambitious compositions and one of only a few double portraits by him. Another double portrait by Hunter showing the 2nd Earl of Belvedere, together with his cousin Mr. Handcock, which was formerly attributed to Hugh Douglas Hamilton, and came from the collection of William Rochford of Cahir Abbey, Co. Tipperary, was sold by Christie's, 17 March 1978, as lot 83 (fig. 1). A three-quarter-length portrait of the 1st Earl of Belvedere (1708-1774) in peer's robes, by Hunter, which may well have been painted to celebrate the Earldom to which he was raised in 1756, was sold at the Christie's Belvedere House Sale, 9 July 1980, as lot 272 (see A. Crookshank, 'Robert Hunter', Irish Arts Review, 1989, pp.185 and 180, nos. 77 and 9 respectively). To be included in Anne Crookshank and The Knight of Glin's Ireland's Painters to be published by Yale University Press later this year.
Christie's