Both Fleetwood Hesketh and his wife came from wealthy Lancashire landed families.

The portraits, though pendants, bear little relationship to each other. This seems odd, and certainly was unconventional; but it is characteristic that Wrightdid not like to paint 'matching' portraits of married couples. Fleetwood Hesketh is portrayed in the shooting field, his wife on a garden terrace: but her balustrade does not lead into his landscape. The gallery's acquisition of the portraits adds to its representation of Wright's work. These works were acquired with assistance from the Wolfson Foundation.

Provenance

Commissioned by Fleetwood Hesketh & Frances Hesketh; by descent.


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