Henry William Bunbury (1750–1811)

This week we have listed an intriguing pair of wash drawings depicting Lady Rushout and Children, attributed to Henry William Bunbury (1750–1811). One of the compositions exists as 1915 print by Charles Knight that was reproduced in The Connoisseur Volume XLI, after the Bunbury original (image 3). 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—likely 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.

Image 4) Lady Rushout with her three children by Daniel Gardner
Image 5) Lady Rushout and Daughter after Angelica Kauffmann