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GAINSBOROUGH, Thomas, R.A.
1727-1788

Portrait of Mrs. Fizherbert   24 X 29

Maria, Anna, daughter of Walter Smythe, of Bambridge, Hents; born July 26, 1756; married, first, Edward Weld of Lulworth Castle, who died the same year, 1775; secondly, Thomas Fitzherbert of Swynnerton, Staffordshire; lived at Richmond after the death of her second husband in 1781.  Married to George, Prince of Wales, at her house, December 1785, before witnesses.  Lived with the Prince until 1794; in 1800 their relations were again resumed, and continued until 1811, when the separation was final.  Had friendly relations with some of the members of the Royal Family in spite of the Royal Marriages Act, and the Act of Settlement, which made the marriage illegal on account of the minority of the Prince.  Died at Brighton, March 27, 1837.  (George IV became King, January 29, 1820).

ENGRAVED: by Jas. Scott (1877) in Graves' Book on Gainsborough Pl. No. 61.

EXHIBITED: [[handwritten and circled]]1[[/handwritten and circled]] National Portraits, South Kensington Museum, London 1968, No. 821, by Earl Fortescue;
[[handwritten and circled]]2[[/handwritten and circled]] Grosvenor Gallery, London, Winter 1895, No. 10 by Earl Fortescue;
[[handwritten and circled]]3[[/handwritten and circled]]Guelph Exhibition, New Gallery, London, 1891, No. 85, lent by Earl Fortescue; reproduced in this catalogue;
[[handwritten and circled]]4[[/handwritten and circled]] Fair Women, Grifton Gallery, London, 1894, No. 66, lent by Earl Fortescue;
[[handwritten and circled]]5[[/handwritten and circled]]Exposition Internationale Universelle, Paris, 1900, British Royal Pavilion, No. 27, lent by A. Sanderson;
[[handwritten and circled]]6[[/handwritten and circled]]Agnew's, London, November-December, 1905, No. 7;
[[handwritten and circled]]7[[/handwritten and circled]]Old Masters, M. Knoedler & Co., London, 1908, No. 15;
[[handwritten and circled]]8[[/handwritten and circled]]Old Masters, M. Knoedler & Co., New York, 1912, Reproduced in the catalogue;
[[handwritten and circled]]9[[/handwritten and circled]]Old Masters, M. Knoedler & Co., Paris, 1913, No. 9
[[handwritten]]10[[/handwritten]] Cincinnati Art Museum, May 1931, No. 11;
[[[handwritten]]11[[/handwritten]] Wadsworth Athenaeum, Hartford, Conn., "43 Portraits," January 26-February 10, 1937; illustrated in catalogue.

REPRODUCED: as a frontispiece in Volume 1 of "Mrs. Fitzherbert and George IV," by W. H. Wilkins.  The author of this book brought to light certain facts in connection with her marriage with the Prince, which he obtained from documents deposited at Coutts' Bank, which Kind Edward VII gave him the right to publish.
in "The Art Journal," London, 1897, pg. 26, and mentioned there on p. 35 in an article by Cosmo Monkhouse "A Northern Art Patron," as follows: "If the Mrs. Fitzherbert by Gainsborough, is not so large as the Lady Harcourt by Sir Joshua Reynolds, it is more fascinating, and as an example of Gainsborough's happiest inspiration and finest skill it would be difficult to find its superior.  It is well-know, at least to connoisseurs, this lovely half-length of the charming women who for so long held sway over the unstable affections of her husband, George IV.  It is his miniature, doubtless, which she wears at here breast, and it needs nothing but this portrait to understand the secret of her fascination.  This picture has also been engraved.  In charm of pose and delicacy of expression it is a masterpiece.  Nor is it less a masterpiece of colour and execution, being exquisite in its pearly tones and in complete