Portrait Of Lady Frances Norcliffe (1654-1731), 17th Century John Michael Wright (1617-1697)

Portrait of Lady Frances Norcliffe (1654-1731) , 17th Century

by John Michael WRIGHT (1617-1694) to $600,000

Large 17th century portrait of Lady Frances Norcliffe, oil on canvas by John Michael Wrrght. Excellent quality and condition portrait wearing a bejewelled russet dress, wearing pearls, set within a feigned stone cartouche. Presented in its original antique gilt frame with provenance label verso.

Measurements: 37" x 30" framed approx

Provenance: Private sale, Braemar House, Dorset by G. H. M. Carfrae

Artist Biography

John Michael Wright was a pupil of George Jamesone in Edinburgh. He travelled to England and then to Italy. In 1648 he was named a member of the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. On his return to England in 1656 he held a place, alongside Peter Lely, as a court portrait painter. However, in 1686 he accompanied Lord Castlemaine's ambassadors to the Pope in Rome and on his return he found his reputation had been fiercely eclipsed by Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Following his first period in Italy his portraits revealed an Italianate influence to the point of being Mannerist. Equally influenced by French and Dutch art, he began to make his models pose in classical costume.
Group Exhibitions

2001, Painted Ladies. Women at the Court of Charles II, National Portrait Gallery, London
Solo Exhibitions

1982, John Michael Wright, the King's Painter, Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh
Museum and Gallery Holdings

Bath (Holburne Mus. of Art): Portrait of a Lady (oil on canvas)
Edinburgh (Scottish National Portrait Gallery): William Cunningham, 8th Earl of Glencairn (1661?, oil on canvas); Suzanna Hamilton, Countess of Cassillis (1662, oil on canvas); Sir Mungo Murray (c. 1683, oil on canvas, painting formerly known as 'Highland Chieftain')
London (Guildhall AG): Sir John Robinson (c. 1672, oil on canvas)
London (National Portrait Gal.): Elizabeth Claypole (née Cromwell) (1658, oil/panel); Thomas Hobbes (c. 1669-1670, oil on canvas); Barbara Palmer (née Villiers), Duchess of Cleveland (1670, oil on canvas); The Family of Sir Robert Vyner (1673, oil on canvas); George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem (1675, oil on canvas)
London (Royal Collection): John Lacy; James, Duke of Cambridge; Princess Henrietta Anne, later Duchess of Orléans; Charles II
London (Tate Collection): Portrait of Mary Villiers, Duchess of Richmond, with her late Son Esme and her Daughter Mary (c. 1661, oil on canvas); Portrait of Mrs Salesbury with her Grandchildren Edward and Elizabeth Bagot (1675-1676, oil on canvas); Sir Neil O'Neill (1680, oil on canvas)

Bibliography
Stevenson, Sara/Thomson, Duncan/Dick, John: John Michael Wright, the King's Painter, exhibition catalogue, Scottish National Portrait Gall., Edinburgh, 1982.
MacLeod, Catharine/Marciari Alexander, Julia/Sharpe, Kevin/Dethloff, Diana/Wynne, Sonya: Painted Ladies. Women at the Court of Charles II, exhibition catalogue, National Portrait Gall., London, 2001.