The Hon. Isabella Carr Hervey (1689-1711) (?)

attributed to Michael Dahl (Stockholm 1656/9 – London 1743). Oil painting on canvas, The Hon. Isabella Carr Hervey (1689-1711) (?) [previously Isabella Carr, Mrs John Hervey (1669/70-1693) or Elizabeth Felton, Countess of Bristol (1676-1741)], attributed to Michael Dahl (Stockholm 1656/9 – London 1743), inscribed: in black, on the plinth at the left: Isabella, wife of John Earl of Bristol, circa 1705/11. A three-quarter-length portraot of a young woman, turned slightly to the right, head turned to the left, gazing at the spectator, standing, wearing a pale mauve dress, loosely draped sleeves turned back over white frilled under-blouse; dark curly hair, brown eyes, her right hand resting on a stone pedestal with a lovely still-life of grapes and peaches, left hand outstretched. Landscape background with very dark trees, blue sky and clouds to right. Isabella Carr Hervey (1689-1711) was the eldest child of John Hervey, later 1st Earl of Bristol’s first marriage, to the heiress Isabella Carr (1670-93), the elder of the two daughters of hits marriage, and the only one to attain adulthood. Her distraught father recorded her death in his Diary (p.55) under 14 October 1711, thus: “Sunday, my most pious, wise & dutifull daughter, Mrs Isabella Carr Hervey fell sick of a feaver at Ickworth; of which she died ye xith of November following; & was interr’d at her most excellent mothers feet ye 15th after in Ickworth chancel.” Ickworth, Suffolk (Accredited Museum)