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Lot Essay
Rebecca Rushout (1740-1818) was the daughter of Humphrey Bowles of Wanstead. She married John Rushout in 1766. He succeeded his father as 5th Baronet in 1773 and was created Baron Northwick in 1797. Lady Rushout is depicted here with the oldest three of her five children: Anne, on the left, was the eldest, she never married and died in 1849: Harriet, born a year after Anne, married Charles (later Sir Charles) Cockerell of Sezincote in 1808; she is depicted here standing, holding a book in her right hand; John the eldest of her two sons, succeeded his father as second Lord Northwick in 1800.
John Rushout (1770-1859), 2nd Baron Northwick, became celebrated as one of the most important collectors of Old Master Pictures in the 19th Century, as well as of works by contemporary British artists. In 1832 he built a picture gallery at Northwick Park, Gloucestershire, but when that became too small, he acquired Thirlestane House, Cheltenham, which he opened to the public, creating one of the town's most popular attractions. He died, unmarried and intestate, and his property was divided between his three surviving next of kin. To this end, Thirlestane House was sold and his vast collection which included pictures, coins, manuscripts, sculpture, bronzes, miniatures, antique gems and cameos, coins and medals, was sold over an eighteen day period. His nephew, who succeeded John as 3rd Baron Northwick, purchased a considerable part of the collection and took it back to Northwick Park.
The present large scale work is one of the most sophisticated of the artist's mixed media portrait groups. A swirling dynamism draws the viewer's eye through the picture, with the cleverly intertwined figures and through the swirling drapery, costumes and sashes. Gardner has elongated the figure of Lady Rushout but, as with his most accomplished works, this exaggeration serves to emphasize the sitter's elegance and grace rather than create any unease or awkwardness. It also suggests that the artist was intent on creating a painting full of domestic harmony and familial affection, with the mother curved around and thus protecting her children.
An oil portrait of Lady Rushout and her daughter, Anne by Angelica Kaufmann, similarly framed to this pastel, was sold at Christie's, London, 17 July 1992 for £132,000 ($254,628) (See Christie's, Review of the Season, 1992, p.46).
John Rushout (1770-1859), 2nd Baron Northwick, became celebrated as one of the most important collectors of Old Master Pictures in the 19th Century, as well as of works by contemporary British artists. In 1832 he built a picture gallery at Northwick Park, Gloucestershire, but when that became too small, he acquired Thirlestane House, Cheltenham, which he opened to the public, creating one of the town's most popular attractions. He died, unmarried and intestate, and his property was divided between his three surviving next of kin. To this end, Thirlestane House was sold and his vast collection which included pictures, coins, manuscripts, sculpture, bronzes, miniatures, antique gems and cameos, coins and medals, was sold over an eighteen day period. His nephew, who succeeded John as 3rd Baron Northwick, purchased a considerable part of the collection and took it back to Northwick Park.
The present large scale work is one of the most sophisticated of the artist's mixed media portrait groups. A swirling dynamism draws the viewer's eye through the picture, with the cleverly intertwined figures and through the swirling drapery, costumes and sashes. Gardner has elongated the figure of Lady Rushout but, as with his most accomplished works, this exaggeration serves to emphasize the sitter's elegance and grace rather than create any unease or awkwardness. It also suggests that the artist was intent on creating a painting full of domestic harmony and familial affection, with the mother curved around and thus protecting her children.
An oil portrait of Lady Rushout and her daughter, Anne by Angelica Kaufmann, similarly framed to this pastel, was sold at Christie's, London, 17 July 1992 for £132,000 ($254,628) (See Christie's, Review of the Season, 1992, p.46).