John Hampden, facing left in gilt-studded armour; Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntington, K.G., wearing chain mail; Lord Rupell, wearing crimson coat and lace jabot, full bottomed powdered wig; Lady Dorothy Sidney, in crimson dress and wearing a large blue hat; a young gentleman, in brown doublet slashed to reveal grey, lace collar, wearing a black hat; Catherine II 'the Great', facing left in low-cut dress, wearing a gold tiara in her powdered hair

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VA… Read more

Margaret Bingham, later 1st Countess of Lucan Margaret Smith was the daughter and co-heir of James Smith, M.P. On 25th August 1760 she married Sir Charles Bingham, Bt. (1735-1799), who was created Baron Lucan of Castlebar, Co. Mayo, in 1776 and became Earl of Lucan in 1795. It is believed that Margaret, Countess of Lucan started to paint miniatures in 1771. Some of her works were taken from life but many are after well-known works by Hans Holbein, Samuel Cooper, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Isaac and Peter Oliver, which she usually inscribed and signed with initials on reverse. For some time she lived in Paris and painted there, and among her subjects were flowers and birds. She had five children, including Lavinia who married 2nd Earl Spencer and who was described at the time as the most beautiful girl in fashionable life. Lady Lucan herself was described as "luscious". She died on 27th February 1814. In Horace Walpole's published correspondence there is a three page letter from Lady Lucan thanking him for his praise of her talent of which he had written '...Raphael, by genius nurs'd by labour, gain'd it: Bingham but saw perfection and attain'd it.' Lots 41 through 58 are by Margaret, Countess of Lucan.

Details

John Hampden, facing left in gilt-studded armour; Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntington, K.G., wearing chain mail; Lord Rupell, wearing crimson coat and lace jabot, full bottomed powdered wig; Lady Dorothy Sidney, in crimson dress and wearing a large blue hat; a young gentleman, in brown doublet slashed to reveal grey, lace collar, wearing a black hat; Catherine II 'the Great', facing left in low-cut dress, wearing a gold tiara in her powdered hair
four signed with monogram, one signed with initials 'ML' and all inscribed on obverse, gilt frames, two with surmounts, one unframed; and an empty gilt-metal frame with beaded surround
circular and ovals, 11/8 in. (28 mm.) to 21/8 in. (54 mm.) high (7)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

John Hampden (1594-1643) was an English Parliamentarian and patriot.

Francis, 2nd Earl of Huntingdon, married Katherine, daughter and co-heiress of Henry Pole, Lord Montagu, and granddaughter of Margaret, Countess of Salisbury (which Margaret was daughter and sole heiress of George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV)

Frances, the daughter of Sir Francis Walsingham, married Sir Philip Sidney in 1583.

Catherine II (1729-1796) was Empress of Russia from 1762-1796.

More from Objects of Vertu, Miniatures and Icons

View All