Old Master and British Works on Paper, including Portrait Miniatures from the Pohl-Ströher Collection
Old Master and British Works on Paper, including Portrait Miniatures from the Pohl-Ströher Collection
John Downman, A.R.A.
A portrait of Lady Hester Lushington (1750-1830) and her son Stephen Lushington (1782-1873)
Lot Closed
December 4, 05:22 PM GMT
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
John Downman, A.R.A.
Ruabon, N. Wales 1750 - 1824 Wrexham
A portrait of Lady Hester Lushington (1750-1830) and her son Stephen Lushington (1782-1873)
Watercolour and coloured chalks over pencil;
signed centre left: JDownman / 1782
270 by 387 mm.
Sale, Bonham's and Brooks, 2 July 2001, lot 113;
with Judy and Brian Harden Portrait Miniatures
with Judy and Brian Harden Portrait Miniatures
Lady Hester was the third daughter of John Boldero and his wife Esther of Aspenden Hall, Hertfordshire. In 1771 she married Stephen Lushington 1st Bt (1744-1807), a Member of Parliament and Chairman of the British East India Company. Their second son, Stephen depicted in the present lot, became a Doctor of Civil Law, a judge and a Member of Parliament.
Stephen was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, after which he was elected a fellow of All Souls. He joined the Inner Temple and was called to the Bar in 1806. In the same year, he entered Parliament as Whig member for Great Yarmouth and he spoke in the Commons in favour of the bill to abolish the slave trade in February 1807. A leading ally of William Wilberforce, Stephen played an active role in the anti-slavery cause throughout his life.
He held the post of MP for Ilchester in 1820 and subsequently represented Tregony, Winchelsea and Tower Hamlets. He attempted to propose motions to recognise the independence of South America from Spain (1820) and to abolish capital punishment (1840). He supported Catholic Emancipation and spoke in favour of repealing the civil disabilities which applied to Jews.
His legal career continued parallel to his political one. He advised Lady Byron to leave her husband and spoke in Queen Caroline's defence during her trial before the House of Lords. In 1838 Stephen was made a judge of the High Court of the Admiralty and Dean of Arches in 1858. He retired from all his judicial posts in 1867 due to ill health but retained the administrative office of master of the faculties until his death in 1873 at the age of ninety-one.
Stephen was educated at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford, after which he was elected a fellow of All Souls. He joined the Inner Temple and was called to the Bar in 1806. In the same year, he entered Parliament as Whig member for Great Yarmouth and he spoke in the Commons in favour of the bill to abolish the slave trade in February 1807. A leading ally of William Wilberforce, Stephen played an active role in the anti-slavery cause throughout his life.
He held the post of MP for Ilchester in 1820 and subsequently represented Tregony, Winchelsea and Tower Hamlets. He attempted to propose motions to recognise the independence of South America from Spain (1820) and to abolish capital punishment (1840). He supported Catholic Emancipation and spoke in favour of repealing the civil disabilities which applied to Jews.
His legal career continued parallel to his political one. He advised Lady Byron to leave her husband and spoke in Queen Caroline's defence during her trial before the House of Lords. In 1838 Stephen was made a judge of the High Court of the Admiralty and Dean of Arches in 1858. He retired from all his judicial posts in 1867 due to ill health but retained the administrative office of master of the faculties until his death in 1873 at the age of ninety-one.
For futher information on John Downman please see lot 204.