Lord John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey of Ickworth, PC, MP (1696-1743)

John Fayram (active c.1713–d.1744). Oil painting on canvas, Lord John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey of Ickworth, PC, MP (1696-1743) by John Fayram (active c.1713–d.1744), circa 1737. A three-quarter-length portrait of a young man, turned slightly to the right, gazing at the spectator, his left arm resting on a pedestal, right hand on hip, wearing pale blue coat, white shirt, white cravat and white cuffs showing, white satin cloak held to hip, with vice-chamberlain’s gold key; shoulder-length light grey powdered hair, left arm leaning on light brown urn. Darkish brown background. (Companion portrait to Lady Hervey by Fayram [P/21, W.G]). Lord Hervey was appointed vice-chamberlain to George II in 1730, and, as he is shown here with the key of office, one would expect the portrait to have been painted not long afterwards. The position of the key, however, is at one and the same time unnatural yet conspicuous, whilst the sitter looks much younger than 34. There is no sign of it having been physically added to a pre-existing picture, so it may have been an addition included in the copy of 1737 of the portrait of 1728 that would have been without it. Ickworth, Suffolk (Accredited Museum)