Charles Phillips

Circle of Charles Phillips (1708-1747)
Portrait of Lucy Sotheron, full-length, in a landscape.

Provenance: 
Estcourt Family, Estcourt House nr Tetbury, Gloucestershire

England, circa 1730
Canvas Height : 49.5 cms (19.5 ins)
Canvas Width: 40.5 cms (16 ins)

Charles Phillips was one of the leading portraitists of the Georgian era, celebrated for his refined style and prestigious clientele. From Frederick, Prince of Wales, to figures like John Churchill, Phillips was commissioned by many of the period’s most prominent individuals. Though unsigned, this work’s attribution to his circle is meaningful—it suggests the hand or influence of an artist working closely within Phillips’ stylistic sphere, offering a glimpse into the visual culture of elite Georgian society.

The sitter, Lucy Sotheron, is herself a figure of interest. Her ancestry is anchored in Northern England, through families such as the Thompsons and the Tindals. Her wider familial ties connect her to Major General James Wolfe, remembered for his pivotal role in the British victory at the Battle of the Plains of Abraham in 1759. Through Lucy, we access a broader historical narrative—one of lineage, legacy, and imperial history.

The painting’s provenance further deepens its significance. Once held by the Estcourt family of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire—landowners since the early 14th century—the portrait has resided within a lineage as historically rooted as the subject it depicts. The Estcourts, with business interests in Bristol and heraldic ties, represent a fusion of commerce, nobility, and enduring heritage.

Ultimately, this portrait is more than an artistic rendering—it is a document of its time. It illuminates the world of 18th-century portraiture, the social networks of Georgian England, and the interwoven histories of the Sotheron and Estcourt families.