Portrait of a Georgian lady causes a stir at auction

The bust of Anne Templer (1758-1832) – Lady De La Pole – is attributed to the artist Thomas Beach (1738-1806), known for his portraits of the elite of 18th-century society.

The 74 cm x 62 cm oil on canvas shows the sitter in a thoughtful pose, her arm resting on a closed book, in a white silk dress with a blue sash and elaborate pearl jewelry.

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The painting arrived at Elstob Auctioneers as a portrait of an unknown lady, but further research by Rohan McCulloch, a specialist in paintings and sculpture at the auction house, identified her as Anne Templer, Lady De La Pole.

Thomas Beach showed a strong taste for art from an early age and, under the patronage of Lord Dorchester’s family, became a student of Sir Joshua Reynolds while at the same time studying at St Martin’s Lane Academy. He then settled in the fashionable resort of Bath, where his portraits were in great demand.

Beach painted many high-profile subjects throughout his career, including George IV as the Prince of Wales; George Pitt, 1st Lord Rivers, and John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich.

A frequent guest was the famous 18th-century actress Sarah Siddons and his picture of Mrs Siddons and John Kemble in the dagger scene of Macbeth is currently at the Garrick Club in London. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy every year from 1785 to 1790.

Today, Beach’s work can be found in galleries around the world, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Dulwich Picture Gallery, as well as several National Trust properties, including Calke Abbey and Clandon Park.

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Beach painted members of the well-known Devonshire De La Pole family on several occasions. Regarded as a real beauty at the time, Anne was painted by numerous artists – most famously by George Romney.

In 1913, the Romney painting made headlines at Christie’s London when it was bought by the New York dealers Duveen Brothers for 40,000 guineas – a record price for any work of art sold in London at the time.

The Elstob painting was sold to a private collector against strong bids from the London trade.