This fine mezzotint, laid down onto the glass and painted from the reverse, was done by the Irishman Charles Spooner after the portrait painted by Francis Cotes. Produced around the middle of the 18th century, this image numbers one of many, Maria being one of the two Gunning sisters, both famous Irish beauties who made splendid marriages. They were the daughters of John Gunning of Ireland.
During the 1740’s the family were living in Ireland, dividing their time between the ancestral home in Roscommon and a rented house in Dublin. The sisters' mother encouraged her daughters into the theatre as a means of earning a living, the family being in relative poverty. In 1748 the two sisters attended a ball held at Dublin Castle wearing dresses borrowed from Thomas Sheridan, manager of a local theatre. They were presented to The Earl of Harrington who was impressed with them such that he was persuaded to grant their mother, Bridget Gunning, a pension. This she used to bring herself and her two daughters to Huntingdon in England.
Maria met with an early death in her 27th year. In maintaining her reputation as a society beauty with a white skin and rouge-red cheeks ample use of the lead-based Venetian ceruse was called for. The corrosive effects of the lead caused eruptions of the skin which in turn required ever more use of the Venetian ceruse, eventually causing poisoning from the lead.
This work within a fine period ebonized moulding frame with a carved wood, sanded and gilded slip.
o.s: 14 1/8 in x 18 1/8 in
Item Code: 5480
£ 695
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