Follower of Sir Peter Lely (Mid-late 18th Century)
Portrait of a Lady, possibly Margaret Blackford (1739-1784), bust-length within a feigned oval, wearing a blue dress and red sash

inscription verso reads 'Lovelace [Withers] nee Margaret Blackford b. 1739 d. 1784' (stretcher verso)
oil on canvas

Dimensions: 74 x 61.5 cm. (29 1/8 x 24 1/4 in.)

Private Collection, UK

Lovelace Bigg (1741-1813), who married on the 21^st August 1766 his second wife Margaret Blachford (1739-1784) the daughter of Brydges Blachford (c.1702-1768) of Osbourne House, Isle of White, and Jane Pope (1709-1782). He assumed the additional arms of Wither in 1789 by Royal License to become Lovelace Bigg – Wither.

He was the son of Rev Walter Bigg (1701-1772) and Jane Harris (1705-1759) the daughter and heiress of Dr John Harris, rector of Chiddingfold and his wife Jane, daughter of Dr. Edward Young (1683-1765), Dean of Salisbury, a poet and author of Night Thoughts. They were married in 1734. Walter, the tenth son of Lovelace Bigg of Chilton, (1661-1724) and Dorothy Wither (1661-1717), daughter of William Wither of Manydown (1623-1671). Lovelace the son of Richard Bigg (1612-1670) who married on the 15 September 1654 his second wife Mary Wade (1627-1711).