John Michael Wright's Pearl Necklace

John Michael Wright was a baroque portrait painter. Born in London in 1617, he was trained in Scotland by painter George Jamesone and went on to spend much of his career in Rome, Italy. He was admitted to the Accademia di San Luca (Academy of Saint Luke), an association of artists in Rome. It was there he really made a name for himself, rubbing elbows with some of the leading artists of the time.  He returned to England in 1656 and became the go-to portrait painter for the rich and noble.

Reviewing his art, especially his English portraits, there is one theme that repeats itself. The Pearl Necklace! Mr. Wright paints a majority of his subjects in a choker style pearl necklace. Did he possess this necklace and ask his subjects to wear it or did he just add it to the portraits? I would love to know the story behind John Michael Wright's pearl necklace. Take a look at the many women wearing this necklace.

[caption id="attachment_3315" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Unknown-Woman (c) National Trust, Blickling Hall; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3316" align="aligncenter" width="446"] Elizabeth Washington Lady Ferrers as Minerva (c) National Trust, Sudbury Hall; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3317" align="aligncenter" width="428"] Lady Anne Bruce Daughter of 2nd Earl of Elgin Robert Bruce (c) Historic Scotland, Edinburgh; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3318" align="aligncenter" width="440"] Mary Wilbraham Countess Bradford; National Trust; (c) Chirk Castle; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3319" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Mrs Edward Onley (c) National Trust, Sudbury Hall; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3320" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Miss Butterworth of Belfield Hall (c) Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3321" align="aligncenter" width="400"] Miss Butterworth of Belfield Hall (c) Rochdale Arts & Heritage Service; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3322" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Mary Spencer Lady Arundell of Wardour; (c) Trerice; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3323" align="aligncenter" width="452"] Mary Scrope the Honourable Mrs Henry Arundell; (c) Trerice; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3324" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Mary Bagot Countess of Dorset (c) The Holburne Museum; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3325" align="aligncenter" width="454"] Margaret Onley Mrs George Vernon(c) National Trust, Sudbury Hall; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3326" align="aligncenter" width="456"] Magdalen Aston, Lady Burdett (c) Nottingham City Museums and Galleries; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3327" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Johanna St John Wife of Sir Walter St John 3rd(c) Lydiard House; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3328" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Francisca Posthuma Legh Lady Richard Brooke (c) National Trust, Lyme Park; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3329" align="aligncenter" width="449"] Elizabeth Claypole (c) National Portrait Gallery, London; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3330" align="aligncenter" width="437"] Grace-Wilbraham-Countess-of-Dysart; National Trust; (c) Chirk Castle; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption][caption id="attachment_3331" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Barbara Palmer, nee Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland 1670 (c) National Portrait Gallery, London; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation[/caption]