HENRY PIERCE BONE (BRITISH, 1779-1855) (2)

in rectangular gilt-metal mounts within velvet-lined box frames
(2)

Provenance

The artist Henry Pierce Bone;

By descent to his son George Bone;

By descent to his daughters Georgina, aka Gina and Alice Bone;

Gifted to Richard Henry Egerton Russell by his Aunt and Godmother Phyllis Rosalind Leigh Hunt;

Thence by family descent

Footnote

A similar pair of miniatures painted for Henry Pierce Bone’s daughter Elizabeth in July 1847 and May 1849 was sold Christie’s, London, 9 November 1965, lot 72. They are mentioned in D. Foskett, Dictionary of British Artists, London, 1972, I, p. 172, II, pl. 22, nos. 70 and 71. Another pair painted for his daughter Maria was sold Christie’s, London, 31 March 1981, lot 72. Another was sold Christie’s, London, 20 November 2013, lot 197 from the collection of the late Valerie Eliot.

Henry Pierce Bone was the eldest son and pupil of the enamel painter Henry Bone, R.A. (1755-1834) and his wife Eliabeth, née Van der Meulen (d. c. 1830). After some initial training in the art of painting in oil and enamels by his father, he entered the Royal Academy School at the age of sixteen. After his father’s death in 1834, he concentrated on oil painting and the production of enamels and he began to produce copies of works by Old Masters and of portraits of the Spencer family, some of which were painted ad vivum. He followed in his father’s footsteps as enamel painter to Queen Adelaide, to Victoria, Duchess of Kent, and to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, however he was never admitted to the Royal Academy. On 14 October 1805 he married Anna Maria Long, the daughter of a Clerkenwell watchmaker. They had four sons and three daughters. Henry Pierce Bone died on 21 October 1855 and the following year 172 of his enamels were sold at Christie’s.

Condition report
Henry Pierce Bone:
Uneven surface, with an indentation centre right, including right side of face.
Uneven varnish or possible bloom or surface dirt, resulting in some pale grey spots visible in places.
Firing cracks to the reverse.
A faint horizontal line across jacket, only visible in certain light at a certain angle, possibly as a result of the firing.
Generally appears in good original condition.

His wife:
A little surface dirt.
Some firing cracks to the reverse.
Appears in generally good original condition.

The present works will be on view at Cromwell Place, SW7 2JE, 21 & 22 March, 11am-5pm