Lot 74: Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait almost

Robert Hunter (c.1715/20-c.1803) Portrait almost certainly of Anne King, daughter of Sir Henry King and sister of 1st Earl of Kingston, married John 'Diamond' Knox of Castlerea, Co. Mayo, seated three-quarter length in a blue silk lace trimmed dress, a basket of flowers to her left Oil on canvas, 122 x 98cm Ref: Gurr Johns Inventory 1914 p.108 ú120 "Dining Room" Provenance: Rockingham House Anne married 1750 John " Diamond" Knox of County Mayo, a rich and independent character and part of the Gore political group in parliament. The government urged Lord Kingston to bring him into line but in 1772 he supported John Ponsonby against Townshend. This portrait was traditionally called Jane Caulfield, the wife of Kingston. However it is obviously part of the same commission and the marriage was much later, so it is reasonable to conclude that this is the remaining sister, Anne. An old attribution to Slaughter is explained by the training Hunter had from that artist and although of precocious talent his style was not yet set.