{"title":"Bunbury, Henry William (1750–1811)","description":"\u003cp\u003eHenry William Bunbury (1750–1811) was the son of Sir William Bunbury, 5th Baronet of Mildenhall, Suffolk. He was educated at Westminster School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, though he showed more interest in drawing than academic study.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBunbury gained popularity for his witty depictions of everyday life, fashion, and social manners, often poking gentle fun at the aristocracy, military figures, and contemporary trends. His style combined keen observation with exaggerated features, placing him among the notable caricaturists of his time, such as James Gillray and Thomas Rowlandson. As a popular friend of most of the notabilities of his day, his satire did not cause offence. In 1787 he was appointed equerry to the Duke of York and Albany, allowing him the continuing leisure to practise his talents.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"henry-william-bunbury-lady-rushout-children-original-18th-century-watercolour-painting-kd-374","title":"Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Lady Rushout \u0026 Children – 18th-century watercolour painting","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 18th-century watercolour painting – Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Lady Rushout \u0026amp; Children.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of a pair that we have for sale, this fine 18th-century wash drawing depicts Lady Rushout and two children (see stock number KD-375 for pair).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis composition exists as a much later print by Charles Knight that was reproduced in The Connoisseur Volume XLI in 1915, after an original by Henry William Bunbury (1750–1811). The print closely, but not exactly, matches the present drawing.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe whereabouts of the Bunbury original is unclear, as is its relationship to our drawing, but the style and competence of the hand, and the existence of the complementary pair, suggest that this is likely by Bunbury.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe subject of the drawing is Rebecca Rushout (1740–1818), daughter of Humphrey Bowles of Wanstead, who 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 with two of her five children—possibly the two eldest, Anne and Harriet. John Rushout 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHenry William Bunbury was principally a caricaturist, himself the aristocratic son of Sir William Bunbury, 5th Baronet of Mildenhall, Suffolk. He served as the Duke of York and Albany's equerry. In London he moved in the circles of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr Johnson and David Garrick.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn watercolour on cream wove paper with Whatman watermark.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe composition is formed to an oval, with the artist's test paint marks to the margin. At the upper edge of the sheet there is residue of two circular sealing wax marks.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54203139948873,"sku":"KD-374","price":310.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-374.jpg?v=1776265261"},{"product_id":"henry-william-bunbury-lady-rushout-seated-children-original-18th-century-watercolour-painting-kd-375","title":"Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Lady Rushout Seated \u0026 Children – 18th-century watercolour painting","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 18th-century watercolour painting – Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Lady Rushout Seated \u0026amp; Children.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis fine 18th-century wash drawing is one of a pair that we have for sale depicting Lady Rushout and two children (see stock number KD-374 for pair).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe composition of the complementary drawing exists as a much later print by Charles Knight that was reproduced in The Connoisseur Volume XLI in 1915, after an original by Henry William Bunbury (1750–1811).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe whereabouts of the Bunbury original is unclear, as is its relationship to our drawing, but the style and competence of the hand, and the existence of the complementary pair, suggest that this is likely by Bunbury.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe subject of the drawing is Rebecca Rushout (1740–1818), daughter of Humphrey Bowles of Wanstead, who 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 with two of her five children—possibly the two eldest, Anne and Harriet. John Rushout 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHenry William Bunbury was principally a caricaturist, himself the aristocratic son of Sir William Bunbury, 5th Baronet of Mildenhall, Suffolk. He served as the Duke of York and Albany's equerry. In London he moved in the circles of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Dr Johnson and David Garrick.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn watercolour on cream wove paper with partial J Whatman watermark.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe composition is formed to an oval, with the artist's test paint marks to the margin. At the upper edge of the sheet there is residue of two circular sealing wax marks. Inscribed verso, 'De La Mere' (Of the Mother).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54203140276553,"sku":"KD-375","price":310.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-375.jpg?v=1776265269"},{"product_id":"henry-william-bunbury-couple-seated-at-a-table-caricature-original-18th-century-pen-ink-drawing-kd-592","title":"Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Couple Seated at a Table Caricature – 18th-century pen \u0026 ink drawing","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn original 18th-century pen \u0026amp; ink drawing – Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Couple Seated at a Table Caricature.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA wonderfully characterful sketch in graphite with brown ink, attributed to the caricaturist Henry William Bunbury (1750–1811). A comically mismatched couple converse at a table, with a small dog looking on at the right.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere are additional graphite sketches of military officers on the verso of the paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn pale blue-grey laid paper with 'GR' watermarked 'GR' (Georgius Rex \/ King George) watermark.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvenance: the Estate of Phillip Allen (1938–2022).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Somerset \u0026 Wood","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54541808533833,"sku":"KD-592","price":148.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0930\/4306\/5161\/files\/KD-592.jpg?v=1780570410"}],"url":"https:\/\/somersetandwood.com\/collections\/bunbury-henry-william-1750-1811.oembed","provider":"Somerset \u0026 Wood Fine Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}