Page 42 - Christmas 2018
P. 42
Pair of wedding miniature portraits of Lady Isabel Anne Dashwood (1772-1858) and her husband Sir Francis Dashwood, painted in watercolour on ivory
By Anne Mee 1793. H 7.7cm
H 31⁄4"
Lady Isabel was the daughter of James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale. The Lauderdales were a powerful and ancient Scottish family, but the daughter of the 7th Earl expanded the family horizons by moving to South Africa with her husband, Sir Francis Dashwood, in 1797. Having survived what must have been great challenges in their move abroad, including the arrival of two sons (Francis in 1809 and Maitland in 1813, born when Isabel Anne was in her late 30s and early 40s), the marriage foundered when their eldest son was sent to Eton in 1819. Isabel Anne returned to England with her sons, never to return to the Cape. Isabel Anne did not share a residence with her husband again.
This pair of portrait miniatures were probably painted to commemorate the betrothal and subsequent marriage of the couple, in June 1793 - the same year in which Anne Mee married her husband Joseph.
Sir Francis Francis was made President of the Lombard Bank and appointed 'Receiver of Revenue' and
5183 (1680567/570738/27) 'Collector of Customs' at Simons Bay £ 5,500
1
