Lot 423
LATE 17TH / EARLY 18TH CENTURY SCOTTISH SCHOOL
PORTRAIT OF JOHN, 8TH LORD ELPHINSTONE
Auction: Day Two | Thursday 20 August from 10am | Lots 199 - 555
Description
oil on canvas, inscribed lower right JOHN, 8TH LORD ELPHINSTONE, framed
Dimensions
27.5cm x 21cm; 34cm high, 28cm wide overall
Provenance
The Elphinstone Family Collection
Footnote
This composition is similar, if mirrored, to a portrait of John Elphinstone (1649–1718), 8th Lord Elphinstone, by John Scougal (1645–1730) at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder (Thirlestane Castle Trust, Accession Number, H.4722).
There are few families who can claim a longer and closer relationship with the Scottish crown than the Clan Keith. Since the reigns of Malcom IV (1153 – 1165) and William The Lion (1165 – 1214) the leader of the Keith clan held the title of Marischal of Scotland. This title would continue in an unbroken line until Robert The Bruce, in 1324, raised the then leader Sir Robert de Keith (died 1346) to Great Marischal of Scotland. It was Sir Robert’s great grandson who would be raised to the rank of Earl by King James II in 1458.
The earldom would continue for ten generations when it was forfeited by George Keith (1693 – 1778), 10th Earl, by joining the Stuart cause in the rising of 1715, having only held it for three years since the death of his father.
George was a staunch supporter of the Stuarts, and had served in the British Army and was latterly Colonel of the 2nd Troop Horse Grenadier Guards, again giving up this title upon the death of Queen Ann in preference for the Stuart succession above that of George I.
He would take his military skills onto the battlefield on behalf of the Stuarts, leading troops at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, an act which resulted in him being attained for treason and his estates being seized.
He fled to France and stayed with James Stuart as close advisor at the court in Avignon. This would lead him to be Stuart Ambassador to Spain, a role in which he appears to have been very successful, culminating in the Spanish marines support of the ill-fated rising and invasion of 1719. This rising was quickly put down by the Hanoverian troops and following defeat at the Battle of Glen Sheil, he would again return to the continent.
His support was rewarded by James creating him a Knight of the Order of the Thistle and in 1740 as commander in chief in Scotland.
However, Keith’s time in the court was not to last longer after this retiring in 1741. Unable to follow Prince Charles Edward Stuart's leadership and not trusting his plans, he was perhaps seen as the old guard who had failed to secure the Stuart right and was being ostracised by Charles in favour of new thinking and action.
His military career would not end here, as he immediately takes a commission in the Prussian Army. Frederick the Great made him the Ambassador to France in 1751 and in 1759 to Spain. During the Seven Years War, when Prussia was aligned with Great Britain, Keith, in a rare show of support for the Hanoverians, alerted them to the Spanish plans to join the fight on the side of France and therefore against the British.
This act lead to King George II, in 1759, pardoning him for his support of the Stuart’s in the ’15. Returning his title and estate, although Keith would only rarely return, selling and remaining in Prussia as a close friend of Frederick until his death in 1778.
The clan had various seats, notably Dunnottar Castle from 1392, until it was sold under forfeiture in 1717. The castle would famously protect the Honors of Scotland from the invading Cromwellian armies in the mid-17th century.
The provenance of the following lots are also tied with another important and ancient Scottish family, Elphinstone. Among their earliest rank includes William Elphinstone (1431 – 1514) who was an important Scottish statesman and in 1483 became Bishop of Aberdeen. He was an enlightened man who not only founded Aberdeen University but sponsored printing in Scotland and had a large library. He was instrumental in the improvement of Aberdeen, building bridges, roads and of course churches. The Papal permission to found the university came to him in 1495 and was added to by a college named for King James IV.
A family with deep rooted connections to Aberdeen, they would ultimately settle at Elphinstone Tower, south of Tranent, from the 15th century and, in the 16th century, Carberry Tower, south east of Musselburgh.
The coming together of the Elphinstone and Keith families, families of longevity and distinction, is one of relatively modern times. The marriage of Lady Clementina Fleming daughter of John Fleming, 6th Earl of Wigton and Lady Mary Keith married Charles Elphinstone, 10th Lord Elphinstone in 1735. The union would cement the family wealth, status and coin the Keith Elphinstone naming tradition.
The family would continue to serve Britain and the crown with many notable title holders and various generations serving in the armed forces, notably Major-General William George Keith Elphinstone who served through the 19th century notably at Waterloo (see lot ###) and Kabul in the first Afghan War and Admiral George Keith Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith, GCB, FRS who served with distinction in the navy, being elevated to Admiral of the Red for his long and illustrious service.
This remarkable group of pieces has descended by direct descent coming to market for the first time in their history, remarkable relics of two intertwined powerful Scottish families.