A11: Catherine Cussans
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© The Holburne Museum of Art, Bath
| Museum number | A11 |
| Title | Catherine Cussans |
| Additional titles | Catherine Holburne
Mrs Thomas Cussans |
| Object type | In category: Pictures » Painting |
| Date | Circa 1790 |
| People |
By Hoppner, John (British painter, 1758-1810) (known) - Painter(s) Cussans, Catherine (1753-1834), nee Holburne Catherine - Sitter(s) |
| Place of origin | Europe » Northern Europe » British Isles » Great Britain » Great Britain |
| Condition |
Good |
| Dimensions |
119.4 cm height sight size 97.8 cm width sight size |
| Materials & techniques |
In categories: Pictures: Medium » Paint » Oil paint Pictures: Support » Canvas |
| Description |
A lady seated three-quarter length on rocks in a wood. Her right elbow leans on skirts spread over rock, left arm down by her side; face turned half-profile to right. Dressed in simple high-waisted gown with narrow blue sash. Powdered hair tied with broad white bandeau, curled at front with long curls hanging down. Background of birches; mountainous landscape visible through trees to right. In a large carved and gilded frame. |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Subject |
Portrait |
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| Notes | This portrait was sold at the sale of Mrs Cussans' effects by Christie's in 1835 when it was described as 'Hoppner – A portrait of a lady, seated, in a landscape' The catalogue entry is annotated in pencil '4.10-0', implying that it was purchased for £4 10 shillings, presumably by Holburne himself (AR134). The portrait is not listed either in the 1867 printed catalogue of the Holburne Collection, or the 1874 inventory of 10 Cavendish Crescent (AR153) and is not recorded in the collection until Chaffers' catalogue of 1887. This may be because it belonged to Holburne's sisters. In 1906, when the Holburne paintings were re-assessed and re-hung by Hugh Blaker and Horace Buttery, this was considered to be one of the best paintings in the collection by far. Buttery described it as 'A beautiful picture – not one as fine in the N[ational] G[allery]'. |
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| Literature |
The Holburne of Menstrie Museum Catalogue: Part I: Pictures, Bath, 1936, no. 41, p. 17, ill. pl. 14, frontispiece |
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| Muse theme | The Art of Collecting |
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| Muse chapter |
The History of the Holburne Collection » Sir William Holburne and his Collection » The Founder: Sir William Holburne of Menstrie (1793-1874)
The History of the Holburne Collection » Sir William Holburne and his Collection » Building the Collection Oil paintings in the Holburne Museum |
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| Gallery Labels |
Mrs Catherine Cussans (1753-1834) Oil on canvas Catherine Holburne was the younger sister of Francis Holburne, 4th Baronet. Catherines sister-in-law, Frances Holburnes portrait is displayed nearby. Catherine married Thomas Cussans in 1775. Hoppner, rumoured to be a natural son of the future George III, was brought up at Hampton Court Palace, and trained at the Royal Academy schools. The Holburne Collection A11 John Hoppner 1758 – 1810 Mrs. Cussans Oil on Canvas Catherine Holburne (1753-1834) who married Thomas Cussans in 1775, was the younger sister of Francis Holburne, 4th Baronet and the aunt of Thomas William Holburne, 5th Baronet. A miniature of her by Henry Spicer can be seen in the display area off the Middle Gallery Holburne Collection A 11 (Unknown) 17-2-2006
Mrs Catherine Cussans Oil on canvas, c.1790 Collection of Sir Thomas William Holburne Catherine Cussans, née Holburne (1753-1834), was the sister of Thomas William Holburnes father Sir Francis. Her half-brother was the 1st Earl of Harewood. In 1779 she married Thomas Cussans (d.1796) and later lived in Hill Street, Mayfair. She was a favourite aunt of William Holburne and his older brother Frank. When she died in 1834, William acquired some antique porcelain and small antiquities from the sale of her effects, some of which are still in the Holburne Museum. A11 (Wright, Amina) 17-2-2006 |
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| Method of acquisition | Bequest | ||||||
| Provenance | Presumably commissioned by the sitter; from whose estate sold Christie's 9 March 1835, lot 21, presumably purchased by Sir William Holburne (1793-1874); by whom bequeathed to Mary Anne Barbara Holburne (1802-1882); by whom bequeathed to the Museum |
