History - Family Portraits

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Rich, fifth Viscount Irwin (1688-1721) and his wife Anne (nee Lady Anne Howard) (c1696-1764) by Jonathan Richardson (1665-1745), 106½ X 85½ (270 X 217)

The attribution to Jonathan Richardson dates from 1750 when this picture is recorded as hanging on the south wall of the Gallery, balancing the other great double portrait of Henry, seventh Viscount and his wife.

Rich and Anne, daughter of Charles, third Earl of Carlisle and builder of Castle Howard, were married in 1718 - an alliance of two formidable Whig families with Yorkshire interests. Within three years however Rich was dead, intestate, having lost £40,000 in the South Sea Bubble.

Anne thereupon returned home to Castle Howard and, fearing for her jointure (£800 a year), removed a number of valuable heirlooms and much of the new plate which she only surrendered several years later. She ultimately remarried and became a Lady of the Bedchamber to the Princess of Wales.

Temple Newsam 22.113/48

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