Lot Essay
George Lionel Dawson P.C., C.B., Colonel in the Army (1788-1856), third son of John, 1st Earl of Portarlington and his wife Lady Caroline Stuart (see lots 85 and 103); took the additional name of Damer in 1829; married Mary Georgiana Emma (died 1848), daughter of Lord Seymour.
The present miniature, painted circa 1815-1820, dates from Augustin's late period characerised by a technical accomplishment never before achieved in his oeuvre. By this time, it had become so expensive to sit to Augustin that the major part of his clientèle constisted of wealthy strangers passing through France which explains the address 'Paris' on the present signature. Henri Bouchot (La miniature française, Paris, 1910, pp. 220-221) points out that Augustin's clients of these years came mainly from South America, Russia, Austria, Prussia and England.
The present miniature, painted circa 1815-1820, dates from Augustin's late period characerised by a technical accomplishment never before achieved in his oeuvre. By this time, it had become so expensive to sit to Augustin that the major part of his clientèle constisted of wealthy strangers passing through France which explains the address 'Paris' on the present signature. Henri Bouchot (La miniature française, Paris, 1910, pp. 220-221) points out that Augustin's clients of these years came mainly from South America, Russia, Austria, Prussia and England.