Sarah Dutchess of Marlborough

Kneller, Godfrey, after · 1745

Portrait on paper of Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)) (1660-1744), Duchess of Marlborough, engraved by Jacob Houbraken (1698-1780) in Amsterdam and published by John (fl. 1735-1789) and Paul Knapton (1703-1755) in London in 1745. It is a copy of a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723), of which there is a version in the National Portrait Gallery, London (NPG 3634). A study for the engraved portrait by Arthur Pond is in the British Museum. The portrait is contained in an oval frame above two putti, one holding a statuette of the goddess Minerva (Athena), and a bow and quiver with arrows. The goddess wears a helmet and long tunic and holds a spear and shield. The print is from a series of Birch’s Heads, or ‘The Heads of Illustrious Persons of Great Britain’, engraved by Jacob Houbraken and George Vertue and published by the Knapton brothers between 1743 and 1752. Hubert-François Gravelot (1699-1773) was responsible for the ornamental surrounds. For the companion portrait see Wep 4178.10.