Hugh Percy, 1805

This painted silhouette with gold highlights portrays a Cambridge graduate in his academic gown worn over a frilled chemise and knotted stock. An inscription in the artist’s hand written on the reverse of the frame dates the portrait to ‘Anno 1805’ and names the sitter as ‘The Honble Earl Percy Bishop of Carlisle’.

Born in 1784, Hugh Percy was the third son of Algernon, 1st Earl of Beverley and Isabella Susannah (née Burrell). He was educated at Eton College and graduated from St John’s College, Cambridge in 1805, the year this profile was painted. He later became a Doctor of Divinity, married the Archbishop of Canterbury’s eldest daughter, and entered upon a career in the Church which culminated in his appointment in 1827 as Bishop of Carlisle, a position he held until his death.

The silhouette is painted on card in shades of black with gold details and is presented in the original papier-mâché frame with a star hanger.

Richard Bankes Harraden (1778-1862) spent some time in Paris and London before settling with his father, also an artist, in Cambridge. He wrote several books describing and illustrating university costume including Costume of the Various Orders in the University of Cambridge published in 1805. He also exhibited local landscape paintings.