Lot 181: Sir William Charles Ross, RA (British, 1794-1860)

A pair of miniatures portraying George Stevens Byng, 2nd Earl of Strafford, PC (1806-1886) and his second wife, the Hon. Harriet Elizabeth Cavendish (d.1892), both seated: the former, wearing black coat, white waistcoat and chemise, black stock and cravat with pearl cravat pin; the latter, wearing decollete white dress with wide triple-tiered lace collar, her bodice dressed with blue ribbon bows and a coral dress pin, a gold and enamel pendant suspended from a black ribbon around her neck, her hair centrally parted and upswept. Gilt-mounted within ormulu frames, rocaille decoration to the borders; gilt-metal slip surrounding the former engraved GEORGE 2ND EARL OF STRAFFORD, paper label to the reverse signed Painted by Sir W.m C. Ross R.I./ miniature Painter to/ The Queen/ 1849.; gilt-metal slip surrounding the latter engraved HARRIET ELIZABETH DAU. OF 1ST LORD CHESHAM/ 2ND WIFE OF GEORGE 2ND EARL OF STRAFFORD. Rectangular, 113mm (4 7/16in) and 106mm (4 3/16in) high respectively (2)