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Assembly at Wanstead House

1728-1731
William Hogarth (English, 1697–1764)
In the ballroom of Wanstead House the Child family has gathered for tea drinking and card playing. The painting probably records the celebration of the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Richard Child and Dorothy Glynne Child, Lord and Lady Castlemaine. Dressed in rich red velvet, Lord Castlemaine is seated on the far right with two of his daughters. Lady Castlemaine, seated at the card table in the center of the room, looks towards her husband and shows him the winning card, the ace of spades, alluding to their winning partnership.

Object Details

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