Francis, 2nd Earl of Godolphin, a politician and officer of the royal household, married Henrietta Churchill (1681-1733), the eldest daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, who became Duchess of Marlborough in her own right on her father's death. They had five children, two boys and five girls, of which the present sitters are likely to be William Godolphin, Marquess of Blandford (c.1700-1731), and Lady Henrietta Godolphin (d.1776). William Godolphin married Maria Catherina de Jong, but died shortly after. In 1718 Lady Henrietta Godolphin married Thomas Pelham-Holles, 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and 1st Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne, and Prime Minister from 1754-1762, over two periods. For more biographical information on the Duke of Newcastle, see lot 123.
There is a pendant portrait to the present work of two of the younger children of the 2nd Earl of Godolphin, attributed to Michael Dahl, previously in the Collection of the 12th Duke of Leeds.