Lot 25: Stephen Slaughter (London 1697-1765)

Stephen Slaughter (London 1697-1765)
Portrait of Major General Richard St. George, three-quarter-length, in a blue coat and breast plate, a tricorn in his left hand, his right hand on a canon, a castle beyond
inscribed, signed and dated 'Richard S. George Esq. Major General of His Majestys Forces. Aetatis Sua. 74. Stepn. Slaughter Pinx Dublin 1744.' (lower left)
oil on canvas, unframed
50 x 39½ in. (127 x 101.6 cm.)

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 17.5% on the buyer's premium.
Richard St.George (1670-1755) was a professional soldier who began his military career as an Adjutant in Sir George St. Georges Regiment of Foot aged twenty and eventually attained the rank of Lieutenant General (1747). He also served as Member of Parliament for Galway (1695-9) and Carick (1715-55). He married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Coote, 1st Baron Coote of Clooney (for further information on his career see E. M. Johnston-Liik, History of the Irish Parliament 1692-1800, vol.VI, Ulster, 2002, p.217). Stephen Slaughter, who was born in England and was a pupil of Sir Godfrey Knellers Academy in 1712, spent much of his career in Ireland, where he is first recorded in 1734 when he painted the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nathaniel Kane. There are numerous portraits of Irish sitters from 1741 to 1748 suggesting a long stay in Ireland at that point in his career. The skill with which Richard St. Georges costume is painted is characteristic of Slaughters portraiture.