Stephen Slaughter (1697-1765) Portrait of Sir Edward O Bri...

Hammer

€5,200

Stephen Slaughter (1697-1765)

Portrait of Sir Edward O Brien, 2nd Baronet MP c. 1735
O.O.C., 126cms x 99cms (49 1/2" x 39").

Provenance:  Dromoland Castle, Co. Limerick
Born in 1705, Edward O’Brien was the son of Lucius O’Brien and Catherine Keightley (a relative of James II). After studying at Oxford University, he returned to Ireland where he indulged his passion for sports and became one of Ireland’s leading racehorse owners. In 1726 he married Mary Hickman; they had three sons and five daughters. Although it is said that O’Brien was partial to gambling and ran up considerable debts, he denied playing at cards or dice, and such debts as he did incur did not prevent him from carrying out improvements at Dromoland in Co. Clare He added features such as an octagonal pond, a two-storey octagonal turret and a walled garden. From the top of the turret, which still stands, he could survey the estate with its racecourse and watch his horses
being trained. According to family legend, O'Brien gambled his entire estate on one race, but happily his horse Séan Buí, named after the 14th century Co. Clare
poet Séan Buí MacBruideadha, romped in first. When Séan Buí died, O'Brien built a Temple of Mercury in his honour.
In this magnificent portrait by Stephen Slaughter, Edward O’Brien is depicting standing, three-quarter length, with a classical arch in the background. Wearing a powdered wig, he is dressed in a sumptuous gold embroidered coat, heavy embroidery and gilt buttons. His waistcoat, partially unbuttoned to reveal a linen undershirt, is equally elaborate, and he wears a lace cravat. His right hand is on his hip, while with his left he holds a gold-topped cane. This portrait of O’Brien is among those by Stephen Slaughter listed in Strickland’s Dictionary of Irish Artists.
Born in London, Stephen Slaughter came from an artistic family and studied under Godfrey Kneller before attending the academy of Louis Cheron and John Vanderbank. He travelled in France and the Netherlands, and in 1732 returned to London. Two years later he visited Ireland and quickly gained attention by
painting a portrait of Nathaniel Kane, Lord Mayor of Dublin. He set up studio in Dublin for several years, painting portraits of the Earl of Meath, Richard St. George, and several bishops. Slaughter was particularly skilled at depicting clothing and fabrics, as is evident in this work, and in other portraits, including Sir John Rogerson and William Graham of Platton Hall, Co. Meath. Over the course of his career, Slaughter made several visits to Ireland. In London he painted portraits of Sir Robert Walpole, Lady Georgian Spencer and Sir Hans
Sloane. His portraits of William Stewart, 1st Earl of Blessington, Windham Quin of Adare and Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon were also probably among those painted in Ireland. Slaughter’s Two Women Gathering Fruit (1750) in the Wadsworth Athenaeum is a significant work in the history of portraiture. In 1745 he was appointed Surveyor of the King’s Pictures. He died in Kensington in 1765.

Dr. Peter Murray, 2023

More Information

Loss and damage throughout canvas.
Noticeable tear at bottom right.