Lot 74: LUDWIG GUTTENBRUNN

LUDWIG GUTTENBRUNN (KREMS AN DER DONAU 1750 CIRCA - ? 1819) RINALDO AND ARMIDA, SAID TO BE HENRY GRESWOLD-LEWIS AND MADAME ST. CLAIR signed and dated lower left: L Guttenbrunn./ f.a. Roma 1779 oil on zinc 31 by 38.6 cm.; 12 1/4 by 15 1/4 in.

Commissioned by Henry Greswold-Lewis in Rome;
Malvern Hall, Solihull;
Thence by descent.

Henry Greswold Lewis spent four years in Italy from 1775-9. Records from this time describe Madame St Clair as his "chere ami" and refer to another portrait of her by Guttenbrunn done in Milan (possibly the painting offered as lot 233). On his return to England Greswold Lewis continued his patronage of the arts employing Sir John Soane to remodel his country house, Malvern Hall, and developing a friendship with John Constable from whom he commissioned a number of family portraits, including his own.