1992.47 Unknown, Portrait of a Lady, Possibly Edward Hyde, Lord Cornbury in a Dress

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This unusual portrait might be a painted example of historical slander. England's Queen Anne gave Edward Hyde the governorship of New York and New Jersey in 1701 for switching his political loyalties to her from her father, James II, in the English revolution of 1688. During his seven years in the colonies, Lord Cornbury was a deeply unpopular leader. His detractors claimed he not only took bribes and embezzled money but also dressed in women's clothing—supposedly to symbolize his authority as the Queen's representative. While modern historians largely discount the allegations of cross-dressing, Cornbury's reputation persisted for at least fifty years after he returned to England which might account for the imprecise date of this painting.

Adapted from

William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label text, 2006

NOTES

c. 1705-1750

Object File reviewed

Changed search dates in TMS to reflect c. rules. Was previously 1680-1750.

Most of the research in the object file (including the photography file) is for the New York Historical Society's portrait of Lord Cornbury.

Credit line changed in 1996 from "Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Brenner-McMullen" to "Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen" to make consistent with those of other gifts by the donor

PROVENANCE INCOMPLETE

"nb: ptg purchased by gallery in Ireland" hand written note on statement of purchase from below

Purchased in July 1984 from Ehtridge, Ltd. Interior Designer-Antiquarian, Alexandria, VA John Morris (dealer)

From 1992: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Alta Brenner in memory of her daughter Andrea Bernice Brenner-McMullen

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Unknown

Cultures

Geography

Process/materials

Oil on canvas

Historical periods

Individuals

Queen Anne

Lord Cornbury

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE

AUDIO ASSETS

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES

New York Historical Society Museum and Library~View another portrait that might depict Lord Cornbury in a dress.

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1988.80

General Description

This unusual portrait might be a painted example of historical slander. England's Queen Anne gave Edward Hyde the governorship of New York and New Jersey in 1701 for switching his political loyalties to her from her father, James II, in the English revolution of 1688. During his seven years in the colonies, Lord Cornbury was a deeply unpopular leader. His detractors claimed he not only took bribes and embezzled money but also dressed in women's clothing—supposedly to symbolize his authority as the Queen's representative. While modern historians largely discount the allegations of cross-dressing, Cornbury's reputation persisted for at least fifty years after he returned to England which might account for the imprecise date of this painting.