Five studies of members of the Bedford family, including the Duchess of Bedford holding a trowel (illustrated); Cosmo Russell; Wriothesley Russell; a Study of Big Isabel; and an illustrated letter to Romilly

Details

Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, R.A. (London 1802-1873)
Five studies of members of the Bedford family, including the Duchess of Bedford holding a trowel (illustrated); Cosmo Russell; Wriothesley Russell; a Study of Big Isabel; and an illustrated letter to Romilly
one with inscription 'Duchess of Bedford' (on the reverse), one with inscription 'Wriothesley Russell (lower centre) and with a further inscription (on the reverse), one with inscription and date 'Cosmo 1819' (lower right), one signed with initials (lower right) and with inscription 'Big Isabel' (lower left) and with a further indistinct inscription (lower right)
two pen and brown ink, one with blind stamp 'Invergarry', watermark 'JOSEPH COLES/1833', two pencil and black chalk, heightened with white on buff paper, one black chalk on stone grey paper, one pencil
14 x 9 ¾ in. (35.6 x 24.7 cm.); and smaller
(6)

Lot Essay

Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford (1781-1853), was one of Landseer's closest friends and most frequent sitters, particularly for informal and intimate sketches such as the present drawing. Having first met when Georgiana's husband, the 6th Duke of Bedford, commissioned Landseer to paint a portrait of her, the two were extremely close for the rest of her life, with Landseer regularly staying at the Duchess's summer home, The Doune, near Aviemore. She is depicted here in the distinctive tartan dress and bonnet in which she is often seen in Landseer's Highland sketches.

Cosmo (1817-1875) and Wriothesley (1804-1886) Russell were both sons of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford. The letter inscribed to 'My dear Romilly' must address either Charles Romilly or his wife Georgiana, the eldest daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford.

The stamp 'Invergarry' refers to a part of the considerable estate owned by another Landseer's great patrons, Edward Ellice.

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