Elizabeth Farren

Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby

 X-radiograph

Elizabeth Farren (born about 1759, died 1829), Later Countess of Derby

Artist:Sir Thomas Lawrence (British, Bristol 1769–1830 London)
Date:1790
Medium:Oil on canvas
Dimensions:94 x 57 1/2 in. (238.8 x 146.1 cm)
Classification:Paintings
Credit Line:Bequest of Edward S. Harkness, 1940

The Irish actress Elizabeth Farren made her London debut in 1777 as Kate Hardcastle in Oliver Goldsmith's She Stoops to Conquer. She was at the height of her career when this canvas was exhibited in 1790. Seven years later, she married the twelfth earl of Derby. This elegant portrait helped to secure for Lawrence the role of successor to the elderly Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792).

Provenance

Edward Smith Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, Knowsley Hall, Lancashire (until d. 1834); his son-in-law, Thomas Egerton, 2nd Earl of Wilton (1834–d. 1882); his son, Arthur Edward Holland Grey Egerton, 3rd Earl of Wilton (1882–d. 1885); his brother, Seymour John Grey Egerton, 4th Earl of Wilton (1885–at least 1894; sold to Neumann); Ludwig Neumann, Manchester (in 1904); [Asher Wertheimer, London, until 1906; sold to Agnew]; [Agnew, London, 1906; sold for $200,000 to Morgan]; J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York (1906–d. 1913; his estate, 1913–17); his son, J. P. Morgan, New York (1917–35; sold for $250,000 to Knoedler); [Knoedler, New York, 1935; sold to Harkness]; Edward S. Harkness, New York (1935–d. 1940; life interest to his widow, Mary Stillman Harkness, New York, 1940–d. 1950)

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