Attributed to John Hoppner R.A. (1758-1910) Portrait of a lady

Attributed to John Hoppner R.A. (1758-1910) Portrait of a lady, possibly Mrs Crewe Oil on canvas 76 x 64cm; 30 x 25in Mrs. Frances Crewe was one of the best known Whig hostesses. She was famous for her beauty and Mary Robinson in Beaux and Belles of England states she looked like the sister of her 21 year old son even when in her 40s. She was also renowned for campaigning for Charles James Fox in the 1784 Westminster Election alongside the Duchess of Devonshire wearing the buff and light-blue colours of the Whig Party. After winning the election, the Prince of Wales famously gave the toast: "Buff and Blue and Mrs. Crewe". It is recorded in David Mannings' book on Sir Joshua Reynolds, that Mrs. Crewe sat to Reynolds in the early 1780s, which might mean a portrait from this period was at least begun but remains untraced. Mannings also recorded that John Hoppner's early work of the 1780s is similar to Reynolds' late works.