Midmay Fane, 5th Earl of Westmoreland (1689-1715)

The Honorable Mildmay Fane by Alexis-Simon Belle (1674-1734) Oil on Canvas Size: 148cm x 124cm framed. Housed in a British Baroque style gilt frame. Provenance: Held by the family at Apethorpe Hall, Wansford, Northamptonshire. The Honorable Mildmay Fane (1689-1715) was a military man and British politician; portrayed here in a three quarter length standing pose, wearing a silk embroidered coat with a blue cloak. He has his right hand on his hip, which was a familiar stance in the 18th Century, when having your portrait painted. His left hand is resting on a plinth. In the right hand corner is a landscape scene. Later inscribed ‘My fifth son/Vere E. of Westmorland’ and inscribed verso ‘Mildmay-5th-son of/4th Earl of Westmorland.’ Fane did not survive his election very long, dying unmarried on September 11th 1715. He left his lands to his brother, Col.John Fane, who replaced him as the member for Kent in an uncontested by-election. The painting was purchased by Augusta Fane (his father’s first cousin) in a sale at Christies in June 1892. It last came on the market in 2008.