Lot 266: Attributed to James Cranke (Lancashire 1707-1780) Portrait of Susannah Maria Dacre, bust-length,

Portrait of Susannah Maria Dacre, bust-length, in blue and white silk van Dyck costume and pearls
oil on canvas
76 x 65cm (29 15/16 x 25 9/16in).

An old label on the reverse states that the portrait is of 'Miss Susannah Maria Dacre/July 23 1763/aged 23'. A more recent label states that Susannah Maria Dacre was the sister of Mrs Edward Anderson (Catherine Dacre) of Newcastle and the daughter of Joseph Appleby Dacre. She died in 1812.

The Dacres were one of the great families of mediaeval England and Susannah was descended from Thomas, Lord Dacre of the North, K.G. They had been significant landowners in Cumberland and elsewhere. Susannah's father was a Colonel in the militia and was captured by the Jacobites in 1745. Susannah and her mother sought refuge in Rose Castle, home of the Bishops of Carlisle, and whilst there, her sister Mary was born. Colonel MacDonald famously gave the baby his white cockade and spared the family.