Dorothy Mason, Lady Brownlow (1665-1699/1700)

Willem Wissing (Amsterdam 1656 - Burghley House 1687). Oil painting on canvas, Dorothy Mason, Lady Brownlow (1665-1700) by Willem Wissing (Amsterdam 1656 - Burghley House 1687). Three-quarter length portrait of a young woman, seated, turned slightly to the right, head to the left, gazing at the spectator, wearing a blue dress, white chemise and brown mantle. Her left hand is raised the background is a terrace. Inscribed. Inscribed bottom left: DOROTHY MASON / WIFE OF SIR WILLIAM BROWNLOW BT / PAINTED BY WISSING, 1687" Dorothy Mason was born in May 1664, at Sutton, Surrey, the daughter of Sir Richard Mason (c.1633-1685) and Anne Margaret Long (c.1637-1711). She married Sir William Brownlow 4th Bt.(1665-1702) son of Sir Richard Brownlow 2nd Bt (1628-1668) and Elizabeth Freke (1634-1684). Described as 'really deserving everybody's love'.Her children were: 1.Anne Brownlow (1694-17790) married Sir Richard Cust 2.Richard Brownlow (1689-1690) 3.John Brownlow, 1st and last Viscount Tyrconnel (1690-1754) 4.Dorothy Brownlow (b.1695) She died before May 1700. Her will was probated in May 1700. After her premature death, her sorrowing husband gave her an immense funeral procession and commemorated her with a monument by William Stanton (1639-1705) in St Nicholas Church, Sutton, in Surrey. dismissed by William Hone as 'a sort of hasty pudding, garnished with slices of gingerbread'. The monument is now completely concealed by the church organ.The design for the monument is in the collection of the V&A Museum. Belton House, Lincolnshire (Accredited Museum)