Anne Spencer, Countess of Sunderland (1683–1716)

David Le Marchand

ca. 1710, with later socle · Ivory; socle: ebony (non-original) · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Le Marchand was a carver of the Dieppe school who transferred to London ca. 1705. He executed three nearly identical, signed busts of the sitter, perhaps for different family members. Anne Spencer, second daughter of the first Duke of Marlborough, became Countess of Sunderland after her marriage in 1700. She is noted for her great beauty and influence in politics, and between 1702 and 1712 she served as a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Anne. This half-bust is identifiable as Anne Spencer on the basis of similarities to Godfrey Kneller's painted portrait of her, which displays an elongated rectangular face with high forehead, lightly swelled chin and slender nose.

Artist

David Le Marchand

Date

ca. 1710, with later socle

Medium

Ivory; socle: ebony (non-original)

Culture

British

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Bequest of Irwin Untermyer, 1973