ملف:Portrait of a lady, possibly Mary Crofts (c. 1651-1693) (by Sir Godfrey Kneller).jpg

English: Sir Godfrey Kneller

Portrait of a lady, possibly Mary Crofts (c. 1651-1693)

oil on canvas

122 by 98 cm.; 44 by 38 1/2 in.

An old label on the frame suggests that the sitter in this portrait is Mary Crofts, Countess of Lucan. However the Countess of Lucan at this date was Honora wife of Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan, who died in 1698 aged 23. As the portrait dates from the 1680s it cannot depict her. However, Lord Lucan's elder brother, William Sarsfield, married Mary Crofts and it is possible that the portrait depicts her.

Mary Crofts was the daughter of Lucy Walter. Her mother was mistress of Charles II and mother of James, Duke of Monmouth. The Duke was placed at an early age with Lord Crofts, a close friend of the King, and took the name Crofts. It appears that his half sister Mary also took the name Crofts though her father was not Charles II but probably Theobald, Earl of Carlingford. She was two years younger than her brother and it appears that they were brought up together, whilst young and Monmouth later pleaded his sister's cause when she was in financial difficulties. She married William Sarsfield in about 1670 and following his death in 1675 she married William Fenshaw, a Master of Requests.