Catherine Bruce, Mrs William Murray (oil on canvas)

Catherine Bruce, Mrs William Murray (d.1649). A three-quarter-length portrait, turned slightly to the left, gazing at the spectator, wearing a sea-green mantle, with a leaf-brown bodice and white sleeves. Her left hand is clasping her mantle in front, whilst her right touches some roses on a parapet at left. In the background is a deep red hanging with a rock behind the figure and sky and a landscape at left. The redoubtable wife of William Murray, later 1st Earl of Dysart (created in 1643), who was a childhood friend of Charles I and shared his artistic interests. Part of the 1st Earl, collection survives at Ham House, Richmond (National Trust). He would have known the 10th Earl of Northumberland, but this may explain the presence at Petworth of this portrait, which was listed at Northumberland House in 1671.