Giovanna Baccelli

She had an acclaimed career and appeared with Gaetan Vestris and his son Auguste in a number of important ballets devised by Jean-Georges Noverre during the 1780-1 season.

Dorset commissioned a painting of her in the costume from the ballet Les Amans Surpris which she performed in 1780–81 from Thomas Gainsborough.

Dorset also commissioned a painting by Joshua Reynolds and a sculpture showing her nude and prone on a divan and cushions; this is still to be found at Knole.

[1] Baccelli was also painted by Ozias Humphrey, John Graham and Gainsborough Dupont (c.1795, which is held in the Royal Collection).

[4] Dorset and Giovanna had a son together: John Frederick Sackville (1778–1796), who was raised by his father at Paris and Knole after the couple parted in 1789.