Portrait of Henrietta, 9th Countess of Suffolk by Jervas

Acquisition of a painting of George II's celebrated mistress, Henrietta Howard (1688-1767), hostess and friend to the greatest intellectual and literary figutes of her time, such as Pope, Swift and Horace Walpole. She married at 17 the Earl of Suffolk's younger son, became woman of the bedchamber to the Princess of Wales and mistress to the Prince in 1720. The building of Marble Hill was financed through the generousity of the Prince; the Countess resided there after retiring from Court. The portrait, which has its original frame in the style of William Kent, is one of Charles Jervas' (1675-1739) finest works.