Sometime before 1762, Daniel Gardner was taught by George Romney. This relationship was renewed in 1767 when Gardner moved to London, where he studied at the Royal Academy Schools from 1770 and was awarded a silver medal in 1771. Around 1773 he entered Joshua Reynolds’s studio and during his brief time there developed an approach to portraiture that he was to use for the rest of his career. His work is innovative in style and given substance by using a bravura mixture of oil, gouache, pastel and further secret ingredients rumoured to include brandy! He was a hugely popular portrait painter of the period.

The early deaths of both his parents meant that Davies Davenport (1757-1837) was brought up by his maternal grandfather Richard Davenport at Capesthorne Hall, Cheshire. Richard was an ardent admirer of the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and provided the eccentric Frenchman with a temporary home in 1760s. This resulted in the young Davies being brought up on Rousseau’s educational principles (the philosopher could not be bothered with his own children, but unhesitatingly pontificated about the bringing up of other people’s). The experience left Davies with loathing even the mention of Rousseau’s name for the rest of his life! At nineteen, heedless of all opposition, he married beauty Charlotte Sneyd, whose portrait was painted by Gardner’s old teacher Romney. A strong-minded character, he was for many years a Tory MP and his marriage by all accounts was a very happy one.

This portrait is an excellent example of Gardner’s work particularly as it is still within the original frame which the artist always had made for his pictures; with the Davenport family since the 18th century it hanged in the State Dressing Room at Capesthorne Hall for many years until 2006.