Property of a Gentleman Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701 – 177...

Hammer

£3,000

Property of a Gentleman

Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701 – 1779)
Possibly Margaret (Peg) Woffington (1714 - 1760), circa 1755
Wearing a white lace-trimmed cap with a blue ribbon and a white satin gown with a matching fichu bordered in lace and tied above the waist with a blue ribbon

Oil on canvas
In a carved and gilded frame

Lot Essay:
Margaret, or Peg, Woffington, was an Irish actress of enormous talent who enjoyed great fame in Dublin and London. 

In the case of the present painting, there is a strong resemblance to Peter van Bleeck’s portrait of Peg Woffington as Phebe, known only from an engraving where it is dated 1747. The sitter is slightly older in the present picture. The opinion of the National Portrait Gallery, London is that there is not sufficient evidence for a positive identification. It is, however, one of three known versions, which does suggest that the sitter was someone of interest.  

Dimensions:
(Canvas) 23 in. (H) x 18 in. (W)
(Frame) 29 in. (H) x 23.75 in. (W)