Footnotes

Miss Catherine Talbot was an English author and member of the Blue Stockings Society. Born in May 1721, she was the posthumous and only child of Edward Talbot. Catherine and her mother, who were not well off lived with Thomas Secker (a protégé of Edward Talbot) and his wife Catherine Benson, until Secker's death in 1768.

Catherine Talbot's education was supervised by Secker. She read widely, became an accomplished linguist and watercolourist and her talent was recognised at an early age. The year 1741 saw her lifelong friendship with Elizabeth Carter begin; they were introduced by Wright, Miss Talbot's tutor in astronomy. Secker died in 1768, leaving to Mrs. Talbot and her daughter £13,000 in the public funds. The ladies moved from Lambeth Palace to Lower Grosvenor Street. There, Catherine died of cancer on the 9th January 1770 in her forty-ninth year. Several poems were written in her praise.

Mrs. Talbot put her daughter's manuscripts into Elizabeth Carter's hand, leaving their publication to her discretion. In 1770 Elizabeth Carter published at her own expense Catherine Talbot's 'Reflections on the Seven Days of the Week,' a work that was constantly reprinted. The 'Reflections' are on religious and moral topics. In 1772 another book by Catherine Talbot, 'Essays on Various Subjects,' was published. It contained essays, dialogues, prose pastorals, a fairy tale, imitations of Ossian, allegories, and a few original poems. Between 1772 and 1819 several collected editions of her works appeared. Her correspondence with Elizabeth Carter, published in 1809, shows an interest in public affairs, observation of men and manners, and affection for her friends.

On 11 April 2002, a fine gold box containing four portraits of ladies by Zincke was sold as part of the Anton Dreesman Collection (lot 773). Three of the ladies were identified as Mary Delaney, Margaret, Duchess of Portland and Elizabeth Montagu, all members of the Blue Stockings Society. The fourth lady remained unidentified, but it was suggested that she too was probably a member of the Society. Although in profile, comparison with the present lot would suggest that this fourth lady can now be identified as Catherine Talbot.