ca. 1740 Anna Maria, Baroness Dacre by circle of van Loo (sold by Roy Precious)

These are the notes for the portrait:  "This portrait of the Baroness shows her in the State robes of a peeress and was probably painted on the occasion of her marriage.

ANNA MARIA PRATT was born before 1724 and died in 1806. She was the daughter of Sir John Pratt, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench, and Elizabeth Wilson; she was the sister of Charles, 1st Earl Camden.

Anna Maria married Thomas Barratt-Lennard, 17th Baron Dacre in London in 1739. They had one child, the Honourable Ann Barbara, who died aged nine.

Lord Dacre had a son out of marriage by Elizabeth FitzThomas; Thomas, later 1st Baronet, was born in 1762 and was brought up by Lord and Lady Dacre and treated as if he had been the legitimate offspring of their marriage. Anna Maria acted as a mother, and as an exceptionally good mother too. Knowing she could have no more children, she connived at this intrigue for her husband's sake as he was anxious to have a son to whom he might leave the family estates.

The boy was given the education and upbringing that would prepare him to assume the rank and status of the Barrett Lennard family. Lord Dacre died in 1786 and in his will he asked his wife to 'take upon herself the guardianship of his child, who he directed was to assume the names of Barrett and Lennard and the arms and crests belonging to those families'. This she did."

Enlarged by half by gogm.

The large stomacher jewels and lace engageantes are features of Lady Dacre's dress in this portrait from about 1745.

Keywords:  1745, van Loo, Anna Maria Oratt, Pratt family, Barratt-Lennard family, Baroness, British, long straight coiffure, hair jewelry, square neckline, chemise, modesty piece, lace, elbow length full under-sleeves, forward-back flared engageantes, over-bodice, stomacher, fur, elbow length flared over-sleeves, vee waistline, jeweled bodice ornament, robes


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