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Portrait of Elizabeth, Lady Croft - John Constable - Gallery Wall Art is part of our hand painted oil painting collection from the John Constable Paintings selection. Each canvas is worked by a trained artist, then inspected before dispatch — a practical route to owning romantic wall decor at a fraction of gallery pricing.
Oil on canvas
76.8 x 64.1 cm.; 30 1/4 x 25 1/4 in.
In 1807, at a time when Constable’s work was struggling to gain critical recognition, the artist was introduced to the Tollemache family at Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, home of the Earl and Countess of Dysart. Recognising a precocious young talent the family commissioned Constable to make copies of portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds, John Hoppner and Daniel Gardner in their collection. No doubt encouraged by his parents, who had been pushing Constable to apply himself to portraiture – a financially more secure and steady line of art than landscape painting – the artist accepted. This associating with the Dysarts led to further important commissions from their friends and family, including the Countess’s brother, Henry Greswold Lewis, whose country house, Malvern Hall, in Warwickshire, Constable painted in 1809 and again in 1819.
This portrait represents the Countess of Dysart’s sister, Elizabeth Lewis, wife of the author Sir Herbert Croft, 5th Bt. (1751–1816), and is based upon an earlier portrait by Daniel Gardner (Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan). The duty stamp on the reverse of the unlined canvas suggests that the picture was painted circa 1807, and certainly not before. Another version of this portrait by Constable was sold in these rooms, 22 November 2007, lot 62 and again at Christie’s, London, 9 December 2016, lot 168, for ￡81,250.
The provenance of the two paintings has been confused in both the literature and past sale catalogues. Constable often painted repetitions of his Dysart/Lewis/Tollemache family pictures, commissioned by various different members of the family. The picture that was recently sold at Christie’s can be securely traced, thanks to an illustration in the catalogue, to a sale at Sotheby’s on 10 December 1925, lot 125, to which it was consigned by Mrs Hugh Gurney, wife of Captain Hugh Gurney, a descendant of Henry Greswold Lewis, the sitter’s brother. A label on the reverse of the canvas, dated 1821, states that it was the property of the Countess of Dysart.1 Both Lewis's sisters who held the title Countess of Dysart died without children and the picture was therefore presumably inherited by him upon their death. Ralph Edwards makes it clear, however, that this picture was at Highwood, near Romsey, in 1939 and states that it was commissioned by Henry Greswold Lewis directly for Malvern Hall.
As gallery wall art, the piece pairs naturally with other romantic wall art and with warm neutrals, timber, and soft natural light.
Expect subtle, hand-made variation rather than factory uniformity. Each figurative canvas is painted with oils, allowed to cure properly, and inspected before it is approved for shipment.
Wondering where portrait oil painting looks best? Try a gallery wall mantel, a dining room sideboard, or a hallway gallery wall. The figurative subject reads clearly from a distance and rewards close viewing up near.
Order Portrait of Elizabeth, Lady Croft as a hand painted oil painting on canvas and add lasting romantic character to your gallery wall. Custom sizes, a digital proof before dispatch, and secure worldwide shipping are included.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 24 in | $68.48 |
| 24 X 36 in | $106.48 |
| 30 X 40 in | $146.98 |
| 36 X 48 in | $195.48 |
| 48 X 72 in | $379.98 |
The sizes shown are the reproduction canvas sizes we paint to order. The dimensions given in a work's description refer to the original artwork and will differ from the sizes offered here. Not sure? Read the size guide or e-mail us.
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Every canvas is painted by hand in oils on artist-grade stretched canvas, with an extra blank border left for framing. How to care for your painting.
Measurements are on the size guide, or e-mail [email protected] and we reply within one business day.
