Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow (1844-1921) as a Boy.
Annie Dixon (Horncastle 1817 - 1901)
Category
Art / Miniatures
Date
1855
Materials
Watercolour on ivory
Measurements
80 mm (Height)
Order this imageCollection
Belton House, Lincolnshire
NT 435997
Caption
Annie Dixon was a prolific miniature portrait painter. A favourite of Queen Victoria, Dixon was commissioned to paint many royal portraits. Her talent (and moderate prices) ensured that she continued to work, despite competition following the introduction of photography. Dixon was born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, and was the eldest of seven children – their father was a corn merchant. In her 1876 book on women artists, Ellen Clayton notes that ‘family affairs rendered it necessary that, early in life, Miss Dixon should make her own way in the world’. She received some tuition in miniature painting from Magdalena Ross (1801–74), and by 1851 was working (probably handcolouring photographs) at the studio of Mrs Ann Cooke (1796–1870) in Hull – thought to be one of the first commercial photography studios opened by a woman. By 1859, when Dixon received her first royal portrait commission from Queen Victoria, she had established her reputation as a miniature portrait artist – more than 20 examples of her work are in the Royal Collection. No doubt buoyed by her regal patron, Dixon built a noble and aristocratic clientele and enjoyed a long, highly productive career. She had a particular affinity for depicting children, and painted Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow of Belton House, Lincolnshire, as a boy and again as a young man, 14 years later (NT 435995). For over 30 years she also showed her best work at the annual Royal Academy exhibitions. Clayton wrote, ‘Miss Dixon loves her work, finding in it her greatest pleasure, and seldom gives herself a holiday.’ This insatiable drive to paint meant Dixon continued to take commissions into her seventies, including a luminous portrait probably of Lady Collet (NT 936727), stopping only when her eyesight began to fail.
Summary
Portrait miniature, watercolour painting on ivory, Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow (1844-1921) as a Boy by Annie Dixon (Horncastle 1817 – 1901). 1855. Oval. Head and shoulders, turned to right, gazing at the spectator, in a black jacket, grey waistcoat and white shirt, Blue eyes, fair hair, fresh complexion. Grey scumbled background. Adelbert Wellington Brownlow Cust, 3rd Earl Brownlow was born on 19 August 1844 at Lowndes Street, London. He was the son of John Hume Egerton, Viscount Alford (1812-1851) and Lady Marian Margaret Compton (1817-1888). He married on 22 June 1868 at Ford Castle, Northumberland, Lady Adelaide Chetwynd-Talbot (1844/5-1917), daughter of Henry John Chetwynd-Talbot, 18th Earl of Shrewsbury and Lady Sarah Elizabeth Beresford. He was educated at Eton. Was MP (Conservative) for North Shropshire between 1866 and 1867. Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire in 1867. Succeeded: to the title of 4th Baron Brownlow of Belton on 20 February 1867; to the title of 3rd Viscount Alford of Alford on 20 February 1867; to the title of 3rd Earl Brownlow on 20 February 1867.He was Parliamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board between 1885 and 1886 and invested as a Privy Counsellor in 1887. Was Paymaster-General between 1887 and 1889, and Under-Secretary of State for War between 1889 and 1892. He was Volunteer Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria in 1897.Volunteer Aide-de-Camp to King Edward VII, and Volunteer Aide-de-Camp to King George V. He was made Knight Grand Cross, Royal Victorian Order (G.C.V.O.) in 1921.He was a Trustee of the National Gallery. He died on 17 March 1921 at age 76 at Belton, without issue. On his death, the Earldom of Brownlow and Viscountancy of Alford became extinct.
Makers and roles
Annie Dixon (Horncastle 1817 - 1901), artist
References
Conroy, Rachel, Women Artists and Designers at the National Trust, 2025, pp. 120-123