John Robartes, 4th Earl of Radnor

John Robartes
Born	1686 London
Died	15 July 1757 (aged 70–71) Twickenham
Title	4th Earl of Radnor
Tenure	1741–1757
Other titles	5th Baron Robartes
Nationality	English
Residence	Radnor House, Strawberry Hill, Twickenham
Predecessor	Henry Robartes, 3rd Earl of Radnor
Parents	Francis Robartes and Anne Fitzgerald

John Robartes (1686–15 July 1757) was the 4th Earl of Radnor and contemporary and neighbour of Alexander Pope and Horace Walpole.

Early life and family

John was born in London in 1686. He was son of Francis Robartes and Anne, the widow of Hugh Boscawen of Tregothnan, and daughter of Wentworth Fitzgerald, 17th Earl of Kildare.^[1] He was educated at Eton and Christ's College, Cambridge.^[2]

Later life

He bought the lease of a house, later named Radnor House, thought to have been constructed around 1673, in Strawberry Hill near Twickenham and is recorded as having lived there from 1722 until his death.^[3] In 1741, on the death of his cousin, Henry, he inherited the title of Earl of Radnor. Robartes embellished the house in Gothic Revival style and adorned the gardens with statuary. His gazebo and summer house survive in Radnor Gardens today. Horace Walpole referred to the property as Mabland in a letter to Richard Bentley, a mocking reference to the ornate decoration of contemporary Marylebone Gardens.^[4] Some observers conjecture that Walpole was piqued by his neighbour's anticipation of his own architectural ambitions, as this pre-dated his embellishment of Strawberry Hill House.^[5]

Alexander Pope lived nearby to the north, their two respective properties perhaps separated by one or two small intervening houses. Robartes was a witness to Pope's will, whilst Pope countersigned a lease for Robartes, evidence that the two were on good terms during their 22 years as neighbours.^[5]

Art collection

Inside the house, Robartes built a collection of art works, including Canaletto's The Old Horse Guards from St James's Park now owned by the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation.^[6] The collection also included work by Meindert Hobbema and paintings by Samuel Scott.^[2][3] Robartes is credited as having commissioned Peter Tillemans View of Richmond from Twickenham Park, c. 1720.^[7] Robartes himself was the subject of a portrait, c. 1741, attributed to the circle of Thomas Hudson, later to become another neighbour at Cross Deep.^[8][9]

Death and legacy

Robartes died, a bachelor, 15 July 1757, aged 71. With his death the titles of Earl of Radnor and Baron Robartes became extinct. He bequeathed the house and much of his art collection to his steward, Frederick Atherton Hindley, the Canaletto and Hobemma to James Harris and two Scott paintings to Richard Owen Cambridge.^[3]

References

1.  "Francis Robartes". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
2. "The History of Radnor House". Twickenham Magazine. February 2013.
3. "The Earl of Radnor". Twickenham Museum. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
4. Walpole, Horace (1837). To Richard Bentley Esq. Arlington Street, May 18, 1754. Correspondence with George Montagu (etc.) 1 (London: Colburn). p. 238.
5. Rogers, Pat (2004). The Alexander Pope Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 238–239. ISBN 9780313324260.
6. "'London: The Old Horse Guards from St James’s Park', Canaletto (Giovanni Antonio Canal)". Tate Gallery. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
7. "Government Art Collection - Art Work Details". Government Art Collection. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
8. "John Robartes, 4th Earl of Radnor (1686-1757)". National Trust. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
9. "William Hickey and Thomas Hudson". Twickenham Museum. Retrieved 27 May 2015.