An Unknown Gentleman said to be Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne (1745-1828)
British (English) School
Category
Art / Miniatures
Date
1800 - 1900
Materials
Watercolour on ivory, metal and glass
Measurements
65 mm (H)53 mm (W)
Order this imageCollection
Polesden Lacey, Surrey
NT 1246505
Summary
Portrait miniature, watercolour on ivory, An Unknown Gentleman said to be Peniston Lamb, 1st Viscount Melbourne (1745-1828), British (English) School, c.1795. Oval. Head and shoulders portrait of a man, turned to the left, gazing to the left, wearing a blue coat with gilt buttons, yellow waistcoat, white cravat. Blue eyes, powdered hair in queue, pink complexion modelled with fine blue rather hazy stipple. Sky background.
Provenance
Date of acquisition not recorded, but originally at 16 Charles Street, Mayfair, Mrs Greville's London home, and bequeathed by Margaret McEwan, The Hon. Mrs Ronald Greville (1863-1942) with Polesden Lacey, to the National Trust, in memory of her father, William McEwan (1827-1913) in 1942. This item found on the probate inventory record for Charles Street chattels at Polesden Lacey, miniatures previously exempted from duty, page 47.
Marks and inscriptions
39. Portrait / of a man in a / blue coat said / to represent / Lord Melbourne. / Exempted. (inscribed on handwritten label on reverse)
Makers and roles
British (English) School, miniaturist previously catalogued as attributed to Richard Cosway RA (Tiverton, Devon 1742 - London 1821), miniaturist