The Bath Chair

This charming portrait was drawn in 1851 and captures a relaxing family afternoon in the garden at Putney Heath with the artist’s mother, parasol in hand, seated in an impressive bath chair. Alongside her are Henrietta and Louisa Lyons, one reading and one busy with her needlework.

The talented artist was Lady Augusta Minna Lyons Howard (1821-1886), daughter of Sir Edmund Lyons, British minister to Greece. It was in Greece that Lady Augusta met her future husband, Henry Granville Fitzalan-Howard (later the 14th Duke of Norfolk). Whilst a guest, Lord Fitzalan fell ill and was taken care of by Lady Augusta with whom he then fell in love. The pair married in 1839 and together had eleven children.

Drawn on grey card in pencil with bodycolour and having been rescued from a distressed album of Lady Augusta’s work, this insightful and well-detailed scene is presented in a period mahogany frame. The figures are named on a label affixed to the reverse of the frame.