William Hoare of Bath, R.A.

Anonymous sale, Christie's London, 25 April 1995, lot 23  

This work has been preserved in exceptional condition. The pigment retains the freshness of the moment it was drawn. It has been exquisitely presented. For further information on this lot please contact Mark Griffith-Jones or Emmeline Hallmark.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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 of Philip Stanhope, 3^rd Earl of Chesterfield (1672-1726) and his wife Lady Elizabeth Savile (1674-1708), daughter of George Savile, 1^st Marquess of Halifax.

Entering parliament in 1715 as M.P. for St Germans, Stanhope was elevated to the Lords following his father's death in 1726. Between 1728 and 1732 he served as ambassador to The Hague and was installed as a Knight of the Garter in 1730. While on diplomatic duty he fathered a son, Philip Stanhope, as a result of a liaison with Elizabeth de Bouchet. In 1737 Chesterfield began a thirty year correspondence with his son in an attempt to guide, mentor and tutor him. These letters were published after the Earl's death.

Upon his return to England in 1732 he married Petronilla Melusine von der Schulenburg,  Countess of Walsingham (d. 1778), an illegitimate daughter of King George I whose dowry was reported to be 50,000 guineas. Chesterfield was Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland between 1745 and 1746 and Secretary of State between 1746 and 1748, resigning eventually from politics in 1748.