Robert Hunter

full-length, seated holding a book in his right hand, in an extensive woodland landscape

By descent in the Longford family, Pakenham Hall until the 1960s

A. Crookshank, 'Robert Hunter,' Irish Arts Review, 1989-1990, p. 182, no. 46

STRUCTURE The canvas has been lined. PAINT SURFACE The painting appears to be in good condition. There is one extremely small area of paint loss in the upper quadrant of the canvas, to the background paint. There is also a thin layer of slightly discoloured varnish overall. ULTRAVIOLET Examination under ultraviolet light reveals one small are of minor retouching to the background in the lower left and also confirms the discolouration to the varnish. FRAME Held in a carved and gilded wooden frame.
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NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The sitter was the son and heir of Hercules Rowley and his wife Elizabeth Upton. His father served as M.P. for Londonderry between 1743 and 1760 and for County Meath 1761-1794. In 1766 his mother was created Baroness Summerhill and Viscountess Langford with patrimony to her male heirs by her husband and on her death in 1791 he succeeded to the viscountcy.  He served as M.P. for County Antrim in two parliaments between 1783 and 1791.  On his death without issue the peerage became extinct, but his cousin, Clotworthy Taylor, changed his name to Rowley and was created Baron Langford of Summerhill, County Leath.

Early in his career Hunter painted a number of full lengths and exhibited eight such portraits at the Society of Artists.  In the past these have been confused with the work of Arthur Devis, though as Anne Crookshank has pointed out they do not share Devis's 'doll-like manner'.

Rowley's sister Catherine married Edward Pakenham, 2^nd Baron Longford, who was also painted in a similar format by Hunter. Both portraits descended through the Longford family until the 1960s.