Description

This is a charming double portrait of the Trench sisters, they look out at the viewer, completely at ease. The subdued, almost pastel, colouring of their clothes and the youth of the attractive sitters, convey a sense of peace.
The elder holds some pearls, in addition to the ones she wears. The pearl is a symbol of perfection, virginity, and incorruptibility; it is a symbol of long life and fertility, and because of its lustre it is often considered a moon symbol. Buried within the oyster shell, the pearl represents hidden knowledge, and it is highly feminine.
The younger sister, also wearing pearls, holds a sprig of jasmine, which, in the language of flowers, symbolises amiability of character.
Both sisters wear flowers in their hair signifying their youth and future fertility.
The sitters are the daughters of Samuel Trench of Ducketts, one of whom, Susan (1713-1753) presumably the younger sister, married John Berney of Bracon Hall, Norfolk.
The manor of Ducketts had come into the possession of the Trench family in 1660, passing to Samuel who died in 1741, most of the estate then passed to Susan and her husband John Berney.
ROBERT BYNG (1666 - 1720) was born in Wiltshire, but is buried in Oxford where he died in 1720, having lived there since before 1714.
He was a pupil of, and very strongly influenced by, Sir Godfrey Kneller (Principal Painter to the King and the most distinguished Baroque portraitist in England).
Byng's earliest dated portraits are c.1697; one of his younger brothers, Edward, was drapery painter to Kneller and his principal assistant.
SIZE: 51 x 44.5 inches including the frame.
PROVENANCE: by descent through the family.
Internal Ref: 9197

Dimensions

Height = 130 cm (51")
Width = 113 cm (45")
Depth = 4 cm (2")