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A pair of 18th century antique paintings - A young Boy and his Sister
£ 540.00
A wonderful pair of 18th century antique paintings - watercolour portraits of two small children, a brother and sister. Delicately painted and well executed with additional pencil detailing, these are finely painted portraits and full of unique character.
History ~ The portraits are of John Bensley Thornhill and his sister Emily Maria Thornhill.
John Bensley Thornhill was born in 1773, and died in 1841. He became the adopted heir of Francine Bensley and later used the Bensley name for several of his children. He was the son of Cudbert Thornhill, (who was Master Attendant at the Port of Calcutta) and Maria Ursula Hammond. He was educated at Westminster School before travelling to India himself in 1790. In 1801 he was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs, in 1804 he was appointed Secretary to the Board of Trade Assistant to Secretary, in 1810 he was appointed Postmaster- General and became a director of the East India Company, a role he held between 1816 – 1840.
His married his first wife on 15 February 1794 – Henrietta Sarah Craigie. He married his second wife on 29 April 1817 – (Henrietta Philippina) - the daughter of Colonel Mark Beaufoy, of Bushey Park, Herts.
He was the father of Emily Maria (Thornhill) Lane, John Bensley Thornhill, Robert Bensley Thornhill, Cudbert Bensley Thornhill and Mark Bensley Thornhill.
Little is known about Emily Maria Thornhill.
Details about the sitters were given to me by the previous owner of the paintings, and I cannot verify the information is correct.
Condition ~ The watercolours were originally in oval frames, which were replaced at some time in the past.
