Lot 74: EDEN UPTON EDDIS (1821-1901)

Group portrait of John Scott, later 3rd Earl of Eldon (1845-1926), and his sisters Lady Selina Scott (d.1891) and Lady Gertrude Scott (d.1919)
With inscription by the 2nd Earl of Eldon 'Lady Gertrude Louisa Scott, Lady Selina Jane Scott, and John Scott, Viscount Encombe, great Grandchildren of Lord Chancellor Eldon. By E.U. Eddis./This picture was begun in 1847 and finished in 1849 by E.U. Eddis Esqre. The portrait of my three children who were born respectively May 6th 1841, March 22nd 1843 and November 8th 1845. There are/introduced in it the gold **** presented by Ernest Augustus King of Hanover to John Viscount Encombe, and the gold Dup, Knife, Fork and Spoon presented to him by William Howley/Archbishop of Canterbury, also the Bible and Prayer Book presented by Mrs Farrer, (his Grandmother) on the day he was christened December 10th 1845, when the King of Hanover,/the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs Farrer were the Sponsors./Eldon. (on the reverse)
Oil on canvas
54 1/2 x 65 1/2 in. (138.4 x 166.3 cm.)

The son of Eden Eddis, a clerk at Somerset house, Eden Upton Eddis was born in London in May 1812. He studied first at Sass's Academy before entering the R.A Schools in 1828, where he exhibited one hundred and thirty times during his lifetime. He was a close friend of George Richmond (Lots 25, 92 and 95), and like Richmond, his sitters included many of the most prominent figures of the time. He was said to have had a strong affinity with children, something that is evident in the present picture. Eddis's final years were marred by the onset of deafness, and he died in Shalford, near Guilford at the age of 88.

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