David Martin (1737-1797)

MARTIN-sommerstPortrait of Lady Charlotte Finch, Duchess of Somerset (1711-1773)
Inscribed u. l twice: Charlotte Duchess of Somerset aged 78/ The Lady Charlotte Finch/ Duchess of Somerset
Oil on canvas
50 x 40 in.

PROVENANCE:
George Finch, 9h Earl of Winchilsea, 4th Earl of Nottingham (1752-1826) by decent,
Christopher Guy Heneage Finch-Hatton, 15th Earl Winchilsea, 10th Earl of Nottingham (1911-1950),
Christies, London, May 9, 1947, (lot 3, 44.2 gns., bt.  Scully & Dix),
Private Collection, California.

LITERATURE:
J. N. Brewer, The Beauties of England and Wales, Or, Delineations, Topographical Historical and Descriptive of Each County 1816, Vol. XII, Part II, (Rutlandshire) page 68,

NOTE:
The portrait hung in the Book Room of Burley-on-the-Hill, Oakham, Rutland the family seat.

Charlotte, the daughter of Daniel Finch, 7th Earl of Winchilsea, married as his second wife, the “Proud Duke” Charles, 6th Duke of Somerset (1662-1748).  The two were married on February 4, 1725, and had two children.  The first daughter was Lady Charlotte Seymour (1730-1805), who married Heneage Finch, 3rd Earl of Aylesford (1715-1777) and had issue.  The second was Lady Frances Seymour (1735-1761), whom married John Manners, Marquess of Granby (1721-1770).

DAVID MARTIN (1737-1797) was born in Anstruther, Fife, Scotland 1 April 1737, the son of a parish schoolmaster.  His early training was, in London, under his fellow Scotsman Allan Ramsay (1713-1784).  He joined Ramsay on his tour of Italy 1755 to 1757.  Upon his return, he furthered his studied at the St. Martin’s Lane Academy.  By the early 1760’s, Martin became Ramsay’s chief assistant and copyist. He became active in the Society of Artists and became Vice-President in 1776. By the early 1770’s he began establishing his own independent portrait practice.  Around 1783, he returned to Scotland settling in Edinburgh. He was Appointed Principle Painter to HRH the Prince of Wales for Scotland in 1785. Martin, was on of the first resident painters in Edinburgh who earned a good living.  He captured a delicate likeness of his Scottish sitters and learned a great deal from Ramsay, as well as Sir Joshua Reynolds.  In the 1790’s, the talents of Sir Henry Raeburn eclipsed Martin. He died in Edinburgh 30 December 1797.