JOHN COMERFORD (IRISH 1770-1832) Portrait miniature of Philip Yorke, 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (1757-1834) in robes and insignia of the Order of the Garter, painted 1804 Watercolour on ivory Set in the original ormolu frame with laurel and berry border and inner mount Rectangular, 10mm (4in) high Exhibited: miniature portraits of Hardwicke by Comerford were exhibited at the Society of Artists of Ireland exhibitions in Dublin in 1801, 1802 and 1804; Comerford Collection at he Irish Architectural Archives (Dublin, 2009) Literature: RIA (1801-03) Journal, 2 vols, ms 24.k.15 Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, p.215; W. G. Strickland, A Dictionary of Irish Artists, vol. 1 (1913) p.199; Paul Caffrey, John Comerford and the Portrait Miniature in Ireland c.1620-1850 (Kilkenny Archaeological Society, 1999) p. 53, number 93, illustrated in colour p.43; The Comerford Collection: Portrait Miniatures, (privately published, Dublin, 2009); pp 9, 40 (#151), 67 (sitter #42) The Earl of Hardwicke was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland during the years 1801-06. In 1803 he was nominated to the Order of the Garter. Hardwicke was a supporter of Catholic Emancipation. This miniature was described by the Dublin Evening Post on 11th May 1804 as "one of the most exquisite productions". Lord Hardwicke married Lady Elizabeth, daughter of James Lindsay, 5th Earl of Balcarres, in 1782. They had two sons and four daughters. His elder son, Phillip Yorke, Viscount Royston, was Member of Parliament for Reigate but was lost at sea off Lubeck in 1808. His younger son, Charles James Yorke, Viscount Royston (1797-1810), died as a child. Lord Hardwicke died in November 1834, aged 77.