Anne Hussey Delaval, Lady Stanhope, and Sir John Delaval in a Performance of 'The Fair Penitent' by Nicholas Rowe
attributed to Benjamin Wilson, ? 1767

caption
attributed to Benjamin Wilson, Anne Hussey Delaval, Lady Stanhope, and Sir John Delaval in a Performance of 'The Fair Penitent' by Nicholas Rowe
Photo courtesy of Dave Penman (All rights reserved)
Details
- Country House
- Doddington Hall
- Title(s)
- Anne Hussey Delaval, Lady Stanhope, and Sir John Delaval in a Performance of 'The Fair Penitent' by Nicholas Rowe
- Date
- ? 1767
- Location
- Tiger Room
- Medium and support
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- Overall height: 92 cm, Overall width: 142 cm
- Artist
- attributed to Benjamin Wilson (1721-1788)
- Catalogue Number
- DN52
Description
Nicholas Rowe’s tragedy The Fair Penitent, first performed in 1703, was among his most popular plays and a favourite performance of the Delavals in their amateur theatricals. The present painting may have been made in relation to the performance of 1767, which attracted considerable critical attention (see DN91). The moment depicted in the picture is from Act V, where Calista (Anne Delaval, Lady Stanhope), having offered to kill herself with the dagger, is restrained by her father, Sciolto (in life her own father, Sir John Delaval), who seizes her arm. It is suggested here, partly on stylistic grounds and the role played he also played in supporting the Delavals’ theatrical endeavours, that the painting is by Benjamin Wilson.