Lot 91: The Countess of Lucan (Lady Margaret Bingham) (British, d. 1814)

Sir Philip Sydney (1554-1586), wearing white and silver doublet and white lawn collar, his hair worn loose and John Hampden (1594-1643), wearing armour, white lawn collar
both inscribed on reverse with sitter's details and signed in monogram, gilt-metal mounts
Oval, 63mm. (2 1/2ins.) and 54mm. (2 1/8ins.) high (2)

part illustrated

Sir Philip Sydney was an author and courtier. He was one of the leading members of Queen Elizabeth's court and a model of Renaissance chivalry. He served in several diplomatic missions on the Continent and in 1586 was fatally wounded at the battle of Zutphen. This portrait of him by Lucan was copied from a miniature in the collection of the Duke of Portland.
John Hampden was an English parliamentary leader and cousin of Oliver Cromwell. He entered Parliament in 1621, became closely associated with Sir John Eliot, and was imprisoned (1627) for refusing to pay the forced loan demanded by Charles I. In 1637, Hampden challenged the king's right to raise revenue by the device of ship money and was convicted (1638) by a very narrow margin for his refusal to pay the tax, and the case inflamed popular resentment against the king. Conspicuous as a leader of both the Short and Long Parliaments, Hampden was one of the five members whose attempted arrest by Charles (1642) helped to precipitate the English civil war. He raised a regiment for the parliamentarians and was mortally wounded at Chalgrove Field, fighting Prince Rupert. This portrait was copied from portrait of Hampden in the possession of a Mr. Hubbard.