Lot 11: Christian Richter (Stockholm 1678 - London 1732)

Carey (née Fraser), Countess of Peterborough, wearing blue robes over a white underdress, a striped gold and grey shawl around her shoulders, a drop pearl earring in her ear, her dark hair curled
watercolour on vellum, later gilt-metal frame with spiral cresting
Oval, 77mm. (3ins.) high

H.M., 1999
P.A., 1999
S.N.P.G., 2000-2003 ,

S.P.N.F., no.56

Carey was the daughter of Sir Alexander Fraser Bt. (physician to the King) and his wife Mary. She married, circa 1678, Charles Viscount Mordaunt, later 3rd Earl of Peterborough. Both Carey and Charles were under the age of consent and the marriage was performed in secret. Carey became maid of honour to Queen Catherine. She died 13 May 1709.

The original attribution of the present lot to Peter Cross cannot be sustained on stylistic grounds. As Richard Walker suggests in the Secret Passion to Noble Fashion catalogue, the miniature is more likely to be a copy by Richter.
Several other images of the Countess of Peterborough by both Richter and Cross are in existence. These include a portrait of her by Cross sold in The Edward Grosvenor Paine Collection (Christie's, 28 October, 1980, lot 40) and a version, close in composition to the present lot, by Christian Richter, from the Charles E. Lees Collection (Bonhams, 20 November 1997, lot 20).
Richter was often employed to paint copies, said to be due to the fact that he had a disfigured face.