This framed family portrait on canvas by Michael Dahl was painted in 1734. The Flesher family lived in Greens Norton in Northamptonshire.

Thomas Flesher commissioned this portrait of his wife Hannah and their children Sophia, Thomas, Frances, Gilbert and Anne. Michael Dahl was a Swedish portrait painter who spent much of his painting career in England where he lived with his family. He was one of the most internationally well-known painters of his time painting royalty and aristocrats. This painting is late in his career after he felt insulted at a request to paint the Duke of Cumberland’s 2 year old son, effectively ending his chance to become court painter to the King George II and he died in 1743.

A local family

The family in the portrait would have been familiar with Abington Manor and may even have visited here.