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Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough

2 of 34 portraits of Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough

Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt, circa 1702, based on a work of circa 1702 -NPG 3634 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Later Stuart Portraits Catalogue

Sarah Churchill (née Jenyns (Jennings)), Duchess of Marlborough

after Sir Godfrey Kneller, Bt
circa 1702, based on a work of circa 1702
41 1/2 in. x 35 in. (1054 mm x 889 mm) overall
NPG 3634

This portraitback to top

A slightly reduced copy of a portrait at Althorp, [1] painted after 1702 since she wears at her waist the golden key of the keeper of the privy purse. Full-size versions were in the Tollemache sale, Christie’s, 15 May 1953, lot 131, and sold Christie’s, 28 February 1964, lot 65. The distinctive tilt of the head characterises several of her portraits by Kneller.
This pattern, extended to a whole-length, was copied as part of a double portrait of the Marlboroughs traditionally attributed to Enoch Seeman.

Footnotesback to top

1) K. J. Garlick, ‘A Catalogue of Pictures at Althorp’, Wal. Soc., XLV, 1976, no.342; inscribed lower left.

Referenceback to top

Catalogue of Pictures belonging to Lord Harcourt at Nuneham Park, 1806, p 33.

Garlick 1976
K. J. Garlick, ‘A Catalogue of Pictures at Althorp’, Wal. Soc., XLV, 1976, under no.342.

Harcourt (ed.) 1880-1905
E. W. Harcourt ed., The Harcourt Papers, 14 vols, 1880-1905, III, p 223, no.40.

Provenanceback to top

Presented by the sitter to the 1st Viscount Harcourt (1661?-1727), chancellor;1 by descent; Nuneham Park sale, Christie’s, 11 June 1948, lot 130, bought Leggatt for the NPG.

1 As first described in Catalogue of Pictures belonging to Lord Harcourt at Nuneham Park, 1806.


This extended catalogue entry is from the National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: John Ingamells, National Portrait Gallery: Later Stuart Portraits 1685-1714, National Portrait Gallery, 2009, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

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