Attrib. Henry William Bunbury Lady Rushout Seated & Children

An original 18th-century watercolour painting – Attrib. Henry William Bunbury, Lady Rushout Seated & Children.

This 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).

The 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).

The 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.

The 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.

Henry 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.

In watercolour on cream wove paper with partial J Whatman watermark.

The 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).