George Wythes (1811-1883)
Lowes Cato Dickinson (Kilburn 1819 – London 1908)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
1883 (signed and dated)
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1346 x 1016 mm (53 x 40 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Ickworth, Suffolk
NT 851937
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, George Wythes (1811-1883) by Lowes Cato Dickinson (Kilburn 1819 – London 1908), signed and dated, lower right Dickinson 1883. A three-quarter-length portrait seated in red upholstered chair. Background of books on library shelves. Table with piles of documents tied with red ribbon, silver inkstand and candlestick. He has grey hair and long side whiskers. He wears a stiff stand-up wing collar and black cravat with a gold pin. He has a dark grey suit and waistcoat, with white cuffs showing. His left arm rests on the arm of the chair; his right arm lies on the table across some documents. George Wythes was a wealthy Victorian public works contractor. His granddaughter, Alice Frances Theodora, became the 4th Marchioness of Bristol. Her father, also named George Wythes, died before she was born and so along with her two half brothers she inherited her grandfather's wealth. It was this money that helped restore the fortunes of Ickworth.
Provenance
By descent to Rear Admiral Frederick William Fane Hervey, 4th Marquess of Bristol (1863-1951), on whose death valued for probate; accepted in lieu of tax by HM Treasury, and transferred to the National Trust in 1956
Credit line
Ickworth, The Bristol Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to The National Trust in 1956)
Makers and roles
Lowes Cato Dickinson (Kilburn 1819 – London 1908), artist