Circle of Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland (London 1735-1811 Winchester)

Undoubtedly depicted against his native Lincolnshire countryside, this portrait portrays John Monson, 3rd Baron Monson, eldest son of John, 2nd Baron Monson (1727–1774) of Burton Hall, and his wife Theodosia (d. 1821). This portrait captures something of Monson's reported joie de vivre in the bold colours of his dress and jaunty pose. In 1775, the politician George Selwyn (1719-1791) wrote of him: 'young Lord Monson shows a strong propensity [to gamble] ... he has a very pretty figure and address, and is extremely well spoken of' (H. Doubleday, et al, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, IV, London, 1987, p. 70, note c).