Lord Brudenell (later Marquis of Monthermer) in 1758

Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-79)

oil on canvas, 252 x 178cm

The consumptive son of the 4th Earl of Cardigan, Lord Brudenell passed most of his life (1735-70) in Italy, indulging his intellectual, musical and artistic tastes. He died unmarried. In 1759 he was also portrayed half-length by Batoni, compared with which the Mengs portrait, in which the tone is set by the bust of Cicero on the writing-table, appears elevated, even austere.

A more relaxed version is at Beaulieu, together with some of the vedute which Brudenell engaged Antonio Joli to paint of his favourite scenes (others being at Bowhill and one at Boughton).

PROVENANCE George, 4th Earl of Cardigan (afterwards Duke of Montagu) from 1758; his daughter Elizabeth who married Henry, 3rd Duke of Buccleuch; thence by descent.

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