Portrait bust of George Henry Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry (1821-1884).
John Edward Jones (Dublin 1806 - Finglas 1862)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1858
Materials
Marble
Measurements
686 mm (27 in) high
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Mount Stewart, County Down
NT 1542336
Caption
John Edward Jones, son of a miniature-painter, was born in Dublin. He was described as possessing ‘a kind, courteous and generous disposition’, while ‘in wit, humour and vivacity he was a thorough Irishman’. He originally trained as a civil engineer under Alexander Nimmo and was employed with him on various important works in Ireland, including the building of Waterford Bridge, 1829-32. However, he abandoned engineering for sculpture in 1840. He exhibited, mainly portrait busts, at the Royal Hibernian Academy between 1847 and 1854 and at the Royal Academy in London, 1842-62 to great acclaim. This portrait bust, dated 1858, the year after that of his brother does not seem to have been exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Summary
Sculpture, marble; portrait bust of George Henry Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry (1821-1884); John Edward Jones (1806-1862); 1858. One a group of four portrait busts commissioned from the Irish sculptor John Edward Jones in 1857 and 1858, and depicting Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry, two of her sons and a daughter-in-law.
Full description
A portrait bust by John Edward Jones of George Henry Vane-Tempest, 5th Marquess of Londonderry (1821-1884). The sitter is depicted facing to his right, and moustachioed. The bust section, in herm form, is covered with a loose drapery. A turned marble socle. Signed and dated on the back. One of a group of four portrait busts commissioned in 1857 and 1858 from the London-based Irish sculptor John Edward Jones, depicting the widowed Lady Londonderry and three of her children. The other portraits are of Frances Anne Vane, Marchioness of Londonderry (NT 1542342), her second son Lord Adolphus Vane-Tempest (NT 1542335) and the 5th marquess's wife, Mary Cornelia Vane-Tempest (NT 1542343) George Henry Vane-Tempest was the first child of Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry and his second wife Frances Anne Vane, and was born in Vienna on 26 April 1821. He was depicted as a two-year old child with his mother in a statue by Lorenzo Bartolini (NT 1542334), commissioned when the family passed through Florence in 1823. Created Viscount Seaham in the same year, Henry Vane-Tempest was M.P. for North Durham from 1847 until 1854, when on the death of his father he went to the Lords as Earl Vane, whilst his half-brother Frederick succeeded to the main title as the 4th Marquess of Londonderry. Like his father and his brother Adolphus, Henry served briefly in the army and also on at least one diplomatic mission, but mainly worked managing the family estates. In 1846, he married Mary Cornelia Edwards, daughter of Sir John Edwards, 1st Baronet, and thereafter mainly lived at the Edwards family seat Plas Machynlleth in Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, Powys, where he and his wife became well-known for their good works. On his half-brother’s death in 1872, Henry succeeded as fifth Marquess of Londonderry, one of his first actions being to change the name of the London house from Holdernesse to Londonderry House. John Edward Jones was born in Dublin and began his professional career as an engineer working both in Ireland and in Britain. He also however showed aptitude as an amateur sculptor and draughtsman. In around 1840 Jones decided to change career to become a professional artist, based in London. He enjoyed considerable success as a portrait sculptor, frequently exhibiting at the Royal Academy in London and at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin. Jeremy Warren June 2022
Provenance
Wynyard Park; on loan from the Estate of the Marquess of Londonderry
Credit line
Estate of the Marquess of Londonderry
Marks and inscriptions
On back:: J E JONES. Sc./ LONDON 1858.
Makers and roles
John Edward Jones (Dublin 1806 - Finglas 1862), sculptor
References
Wynyard 1949: Inventory and Valuation of the Contents of Wynyard Park, Co. Durham, the property of the Most Honourable the Marquess of Londonderry… deceased. Prepared for the purpose of probate by H. Clifford-Smith. 1949, p. 35.