Beschreibung:

RICHARD COSWAY R.A. (BRITISH, 1742-1821)
RICHARD COSWAY R.A. (BRITISH, 1742-1821) An important double-sided portrait miniature depicting the four children of Frederick Ponsonby 3rd Earl of Bessborough (1758-1844) and his wife Henrietta Ponsonby, Countess of Bessborough, née Spencer (1761-1821): Sir John William Ponsonby, Viscount Duncannon, later 4th Earl of Bessborough (1781-1847), in emerald green suit and falling white collar, his right arm around the waist of his younger sister, Lady Caroline Ponsonby, later Lady Caroline Lamb (1785-1828), in white dress, pink sash around waist, her arms wrapped around her brother's neck; on the other side, Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby (1783-1857), in blue coat with brass buttons, white waistcoat, breeches and falling collar, seated, holding in his arms his younger brother Sir William Francis Spencer Ponsonby, later 1st Baron de Mauley of Canford (1787-1855), in white dress, fair hair, his left arm around his brother's left shoulder; both with sky backgrounds signed, dated and inscribed with the sitters' names in full on the backing cards 'The Hon b l e John Ponsonby R d u s Cosway R A Primarius Pictor Serenissimi Walliae Principis Pinxit 1790 The Hon b l e . Caroline Ponsonby' and 'R. d u s Cosway R . A Primarius Pictor Serenissi [ sic ] Walliae Principis Pinxit 1789 The Hon b l e Frederick Ponsonb[y] The Hon b l e Will m .. Ponsonby', respectively on ivory ovals, 3¼ in. (82 mm.) and 3 1/16 in. (78 mm) high, respectively, gold fausse-montre frame, set on one side with seed-pearl border, the other with translucent red enamel on guilloché ground set with diamonds, with hinged red leather case and later rosewood hanging stand (3)