Sir Edwin Henry Landseer, R.A.

Half length, seated wearing black with a red ribbon in her hair

The artist’s studio sale, Christie’s, 9 May 1874, probably lot 193 (as 'Portrait of a Lady with a dog');
Anonymous sale, unknown date, lot 932 (as 'the Duchess of Bedford', according to a label, verso);
Anonymous sale, London, Christie’s, 17 November 1967, lot 41 (as 'a portrait of the Duchess of Bedford'), where acquired by the present owners.

In overall very good condition. The panel is uncradled, flat and stable. The paint surface is relatively clean and the varnish is only slightly discoloured. There are a handful of pinprick-size losses, one in the sitter’s headband, and three scattered in the red drapery, lower centre. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals the opaque varnish, and apparently extremely little intervention. Offered in a velvet covered frame in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This painting has historically been thought to be a portrait of Georgiana Russell, Duchess of Bedford (1781-1853). However, the sitter is too young and her features too pointed to be those of the Duchess of Bedford, whose known portraits by Landseer show a more mature lady, significantly fuller in the face. However it does fit, both stylistically and in terms of the physiognomy, with a large group of portrait sketches of members of the extended Russell family that Landseer painted in the late 1820s and early 1830s.

The wife of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, a close friend and admirer of Landseer’s, and one of his most important patrons, Georgiana, Duchess of Bedford was reputedly the artist’s mistress. He became a favourite among the family and stayed with them regularly, both at Woburn, the family seat in Bedfordshire, and at Glenfeshie in the Highlands. Twenty years her junior, Landseer’s first recorded visit to Woburn was in 1823, by which time the Duchess would have been forty-two years old. The sitter in this portrait is clearly much younger than that; however it could well be one of her three daughters. The most likely candidate is Lady Louisa Jane Russell (1812-1905), who in 1832 married James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess and later 1st Duke of Abercorn. Louisa would have been in her late teens or early twenties at the time this portrait was painted and the facial features and glossy ringleted black hair of the sitter compare closely with known portraits of her.

We are grateful to Richard Ormond for his assistance with the cataloguing of this lot.