Ickworth House – William Hogarth’s ‘The Hervey Conversation Piece’
As I’m not observant, I hadn’t realised at the time that this painting at Ickworth House was by William Hogarth (1697-1764) who must rank as one of the most influential British artists. The work was commissioned by John, Lord Hervey, and also has the title of ‘The Holland House Group’ which seems to me to be a more grown-up sounding name than ‘the Hervey Conversation Piece’. This secondary title points towards the significant presence of Henry and Stephen Fox, whose family later held the title Baron Holland and resided at Holland House. I had to look it up, but the ‘conversation piece’ style of artwork was a thing in the eighteenth century, a way of the middle classes to show off their status.
It was painted between 1738 and 1740, with this being time for another table…
| Sitter | Key Title/Role | Depicted Action/Pose | Relationship to Hervey/Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey (1696–1743) | Vice-Chamberlain to Royal Household | Standing centrally, wearing gold key, gesturing at plan | Commissioner; Central figure; Political leader/Courtier |
| Henry Fox, 1st Baron Holland (1705–1774) | Surveyor-General of the King’s Works | Standing, holding up architectural plan | Political ally (Whig); Colleague (related interests in architecture/works) |
| Stephen Fox, 1st Earl of Ilchester (1704–1776) | Later Joint Secretary to the Treasury | Seated at table with wine/fruit, dog at feet; stick upsets Desaguliers’ chair | Brother of Henry Fox; Political ally (Whig); Social connection |
| Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough (1706–1758) | Gentleman of the King’s Bedchamber (from 1738) | Seated left of Hervey, leaning in, gesturing | Colleague in Royal Household; Political ally (Whig); Social connection |
| Thomas Winnington (1696–1746) | Whig Politician | Standing beside Marlborough, foot on garden roller | Political ally (Whig); Social connection |
| Rev. John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683–1744) | Natural Philosopher, Clergyman, Engineer, Freemason | Peering through telescope, teetering on upset chair near river | Intellectual figure; Represents scientific/Enlightenment interests within Hervey’s circle |
I love a political artwork (I don’t get out much) as they’re statements of intent and political alliances rather than anything else. Hervey had reached the giddy heights of Vice-Chamberlain to Royal Household which was a rather more powerful role than it is today. I note that because I would bet that the majority of people don’t know that Samantha Dixon currently holds the role, although I sometimes fear that the majority of people don’t know who the Home Secretary is.
There is some background information here, which is that John Hervey and Stephen Fox were in a relationship, although initially John has pursued Henry Fox until he rejected the advances and he went for his older brother instead. For extra excitement, Winnington had an affair, likely more than one, and managed to get himself involved in a duel.
The artwork has never left the property and was owned by the Hervey family until 1956 when it was accepted by HM Treasury in lieu of death duties and then given to the National Trust. There’s also a copy of the artwork at Redlynch Park in Wiltshire, which was the country seat of the Fox family.
