Bonhams 1793 : John Smart (British, 1742-1811) Mrs. Sarah Tyssen (1756-1790) née Boddicott, wearing lavender dress, slashed at the sleeve to reveal white, white lace slip visible to her décolleté trimmed with fine green ribbon, a green ribbon bow to her corsage, her hair elaborately upswept and dressed with strands of pearls and a sheer white veil

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23 Nov 2011 14:00 GMT London, Knightsbridge
Fine Portrait Miniatures
Back to auction 19010

John Smart (British, 1742-1811)

Mrs. Sarah Tyssen (1756-1790) née Boddicott, wearing lavender dress, slashed at the sleeve to reveal white, white lace slip visible to her décolleté trimmed with fine green ribbon, a green ribbon bow to her corsage, her hair elaborately upswept and dressed with strands of pearls and a sheer white veil.
Signed on the obverse with initials and dated J.S./ 1781., silver frame, engraved on the reverse Sarah Tyssen/ d^r. of Rich^d. Boddicott,/ b.1756. m^d.1782. d.1790.
Oval, 52mm (2 1/16in) high
Literature: D. Foskett, John Smart The Man and His Miniatures, 1964, Appendix A, p.75, ill.fig.48, plate XIII

Sold for £43,250 inc. premium

Footnotes

Sarah, daughter of Richard Boddicott (b.1730) and Sarah Tyssen (b.c.1731) married in 1782, Samuel Tyssen (1740-1800). Together they had a son Samuel Tyssen (l786-1845) and a daughter Sarah Tyssen (c.1790-1854). As their mother died when the children were infants, Samuel became a ward of Willian Hougham of Barton Estate, Canterbury; and Sarah became a ward of her Mother's cousin Solomon Hougham the Goldsmith. Sarah's mother, Sarah, was the eldest child of the wealthy Samuel Tyssen and his wife Sarah Hougham.

Daphne Foskett records that in the same year, 1781, Smart also painted a portrait of Sarah's husband, Samuel. This portrait, in the collection of Lord Wharton, is slightly smaller than the present lot and depicts Samuel Tyssen, wearing a leaf-green coat, presumably to complement the present portrait of his wife. See Daphne Foskett, John Smart, the man and his miniatures, 1964, ill.pl.2, fig.4.

Category: Fine Art / Portrait Miniatures

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