Frances Talbot, Duchess of Tyrconnel (née Jenyns (Jennings), formerly Lady Hamilton)

Sitterback to top

• Frances Talbot, Duchess of Tyrconnel (née Jenyns (Jennings), formerly Lady Hamilton) (circa 1648-1731), Famous beauty; wife of, firstly, Sir George Hamilton, Comte Hamilton and, secondly, Richard Talbot, 1st Duke of Tyrconnel. Sitter associated with 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Samuel Cooper (1609-1672), Miniature painter. Artist associated with 105 portraits, Sitter associated with 3 portraits.

This portraitback to top

'La Belle Jennings' was an elder sister of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough and one of the reigning beauties at the court of Charles II, where it was said 'she gained the admiration of everyone and was almost alone among her competitors there in maintaining a reputation of chastity'. A contemporary biographer wrote of her that her features 'shoot a thousand arrows straight into the centre of the heart'. Jennings became the second wife of Richard Talbot de Malahide, Duke of Tyrconnel in 1681. The swagger mount to this miniature, probably Regency, is one of several of this type found on miniatures formerly in the Talbot collection at Malahide Castle.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 25
• Ingamells, John, Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, 2009, p. 301
• Ribeiro, Aileen, The Gallery of Fashion, 2000, p. 78
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 627
• Walker, Richard, Miniatures: 300 Years of the English Miniature, 1998, p. 39

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Crowns and tiaras
• Miniatures
• On display at the Gallery