Possibly Hester Heywood (1718–89)
Date made: c.1710–1735
Artist: unknown artist
Description: The sitter in this portrait is wearing 'artistic' dress, with its loose fabric, simple low V neck filled with plain ruffles and wide open-ended sleeves. Such styles were worn for long periods of time. From the style of the painting, the type of costume and the hair style, the date range is thought to be about 1710 to 1735.
The traditional identity of the sitter and painter of this portrait are open to doubt. There were three notable Isle of Man women named Hester Heywood. Hester Heywood (died 1789) the grandmother of Peter Heywood of the Bounty, his aunt Hester, and his sister Nessy (also christened Hester).
The painting was acquired by Manx National Heritage in 1963 with advice the sitter was 'Miss Hester Heywood'. It has been ascertained the sitter is not Hester, or 'Nessy', Heywood, the second daughter of Deemster Peter John Heywood and Elizabeth Spedding, born at the Nunnery, near Douglas, Isle of Man, in 1768. There was an earlier Hester Heywood (1718–1789), daughter of Robert Reeves, a merchant from Cork, who married Thomas Heywood (1698–1759) of the distinguished Isle of Man family in 1738. Thomas was Speaker (then called 'Chairman') of the House of Keys from 1738–1758.
Information obtained from Art UK Art Detectives http://www.artuk.org/artdetective (2024).
Measurements: unframed artwork: 72 cm x 57 cm
Materials: oil on canvas
Object name: painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1963-0174
Subject tags : Isle of Man