Figure 1.-- This was one of the last of the magnificent works done by famed English portraitist Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88). Gainsborough of course is one of the great masters. Marsham commissioned a life-size group portrait of his children (Amelia Charlotte, Frances, Harriot and Charles (July 1787). Commisioning Gainsborough is just one example of the family's wealth. The children are surrounded by an impressive late summer landscape, presumably a wiided area whuch was part of the Earl's extensive estate, burvclaely not the formal gardens. Setting the portrai in the garden was in part to create a sence of informality. The children, however, are pictured almost as they do not know that their siblings are present, even the two at the center embracing each other.

This was one of the last of the magnificent works done by famed English portraitist Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88). Gainsborough of course is one of the great masters. Charles Marsham (1744-1811) was the son of Robert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney, and Priscilla, daughter and heiress of Charles Pym. He was educated at Eton College (1753-63) and entered Christ Church, Oxford (1763). He succeeded his father to the barony (1793). He inherited his grandfather's large and hugely profitable sugar plantations, jointly known as 'Romney's', on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts. The property had been part of his father's marriage settlement to his mother (1742). Throughout the 18th century and into the 19th century it was operated with brutal slave labor. Caribbean sugar plantations were essenrially death camps--far worse than American plantaiins, as bas as they were. The French sugar plantaions in what is now Haiti were the worse, but the British plantations were also extrodinarily brutal. Charles was known as Lord Romney (1793-1801) and sat in the House of Commons from (1768-90), meaning during the American Revolution. He inherited his peerage after the death of his father (1793) and was created as first Earl of Romney (1801). Marsham commissioned a life-size group portrait of his children (July 1787). The children are Charles (1777-1845), Frances (1778-1868), Harriot (1780-1825), Amelia Charlotte (1782-1863). There are two dogs, The dog the younger child is holding is Fidele. Commisioning Gainsborough is just one example of the family's wealth. The children are surrounded by an impressive late--summer landscape, presumably a wooded area whuch was part of the Earl's extensive estate, but clearly not the formal gardens. Setting the portrai in hge garden was in part to create a sence of informality. The children, however, are pictured almost as they do not know that their siblings are present, even the two at the center embracing each other. Having four children sit still For an extended period woukd have been a challenge. So obviously he had them sit separtely (especially for the faces) and merged them into the portait. Notice that their eyes do not meet. One art expert comments that as a result, 'the composition is lacking in convincing inner rapport'. The children are depicted collecting hazelnuts. The girls wear long white dressess in the Empire style. The oldest girl has a large straw hat with blue ribbons. Charles wears a brownish yellow suit made up of a vest and knee breeches with a fancy open-neck ruffled blouse. Men's suits at the time could be done in bright colors. Robert's suit here is a good example. Robert's hat is at his feet, but ir is diffucult to make out. Robert's hair is done long like his sisters, but none of them have their hair done in curls.

Created: 10:07 AM 4/23/2020
Last updated: 10:07 AM 4/23/2020