Lot Essay
Frances Anne Crewe, Lady Crewe (d. 1818), daughter of Fulke Greville, envoy extraordinary to the Elector of Bavaria was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. She married John afterwards first Baron Crewe (d. 1829) in 1766. Their houses, Crewe Hall, Cheshire and in Hampstead were the venue for many parties attended by Charles James Fox, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Sir Joshua Reynolds and others. Sheridan dedicated the 'School for Scandal' to her and some lines addressed to her by Fox were printed at the Strawberry Press in 1775.
Ozias Humphry painted several miniatures of Baron and Lady Crewe. Two payments are recorded for 21 June 1768 'Mr Crew for a small portrait of Mrs Crew leaning on her hand 8.12.0.' and 'At the same time for that in the Character of a Saint 31.10.0' (Williamson, op. cit., p. 295). A letter written by Humphry in 1789 or 1790 refers to a letter he has received from Mrs Crewe of Crewe Hall, inviting him 'in the most pressing manner' to come and spend a month or two with them in Cheshire, and adds 'but as I feel something like a returning passion for painting again (though nothing like a rage), I have a notion I shall find myself impatient to get back to London, to execute the large commissions I have, and make one more effort, if I die for it. I feel very little disposed to adopt miniature painting for life. I could not live under the disgrace of it, and it is certain that, I cannot stir up a little more flame for my profession that I have felt lately, I may as well unstring my lyre at once, and sing no more' (Williamson, op. cit., p. 76).
Ozias Humphry painted several miniatures of Baron and Lady Crewe. Two payments are recorded for 21 June 1768 'Mr Crew for a small portrait of Mrs Crew leaning on her hand 8.12.0.' and 'At the same time for that in the Character of a Saint 31.10.0' (Williamson, op. cit., p. 295). A letter written by Humphry in 1789 or 1790 refers to a letter he has received from Mrs Crewe of Crewe Hall, inviting him 'in the most pressing manner' to come and spend a month or two with them in Cheshire, and adds 'but as I feel something like a returning passion for painting again (though nothing like a rage), I have a notion I shall find myself impatient to get back to London, to execute the large commissions I have, and make one more effort, if I die for it. I feel very little disposed to adopt miniature painting for life. I could not live under the disgrace of it, and it is certain that, I cannot stir up a little more flame for my profession that I have felt lately, I may as well unstring my lyre at once, and sing no more' (Williamson, op. cit., p. 76).