William (1765) Watson Sold at Auction Prices

WILLIAM WATSON (IRISH, D. 1765), IRISH SCHOOL

WILLIAM WATSON (IRISH, D. 1765), IRISH SCHOOL A portrait of The Hon. Mrs. Arthur Rochfort wearing a cream gown edged with lace and a blue wrap Pastel on paper laid on canvas Contained in the original gilt-wood frame Sarah Rochfort (nee Singleton) was the daughter of The Rev. Rowland Singleton (1696-1741) of Drogheda, later Vicar of Termonfeckin, County Louth. She was the niece of The Rt. Hon. Henry Singleton (1682-1759), Chief Justice of The Irish Common Pleas and after Master of The Rolls in Ireland. Sarah married The Hon. Arthur Rochfort (1711-1774) of Bellfield House, County Westmeath. He became MP for Westmeath when his elder brother was elevated to the Earldom. Arthur Rochfort was the brother of Robert, 1st Earl of Belvedere (1708-1774) who lived nearby at Belvedere, Mullingar. She became, unwittingly, involved in a cause célèbre in eighteenth century Irish aristocratic life. The Earl of Belvedere accused his brother, Arthur, of conducting an illicit affair with his wife, Mary. Despite strenuous denials from both parties, the Earl brought action against Arthur that led to him being awarded costs of the then enormous sum of £2,000. This was beyond the means of Arthur who fled the country. On his return he was arrested and imprisoned in Marshalsea Debtor's Prison in Dublin, where, from some accounts, he was to remain for the rest of his life. He was buried at St. Audeon's Church, Dublin. As punishment for this affair, The Earl of Belvedere kept his wife Mary locked up in Gaulstown, his countryseat, before building Belvedere. Here she remained for nearly thirty years. After the Earl's death, she was set free, and by some accounts became a nun. William Watson was an Irish artist who worked in oils and pastels. He was a brother of the mezzotint engraver, James Watson. His work is close in style to the pastel portraits of Francis Cotes (English, 1726-1770). He exhibited three works at The Society of Artists in Ireland, from an address in College Green, in 1765. There are two works by Watson in the National Gallery of Ireland: a pastel drawing of Viscountess Caroline Sudley, No. 7934, and a signed oil painting entitled Portrait of a young lady, No. 4300. His wife was a painter of fruit and flower pieces, which she exhibited in Dublin between 1768 and 1772. Worldwide shipping available. It is advisable to send shipping enquiries to shipping@sheppards.ie prior to 26 April 2016.