Pair of Early Victorian Watercolour Portraits

It’s always pleasing to find a pair of portraits that have successfully stayed together like these. Painted by John Stanesby around 1840, they depict: Walter Johnson (1817-1888) in a charcoal grey coat, buttoned waistcoat and black stock; and, his wife Hannah in a pretty dress with Victoria sleeves, her black hair in long ringlets. An inscription on the back of the paintings gives their address as 88 Walton Street, Chelsea.

Watercolour on paper, one signed ‘J. Stanesby, del.’. The portraits are presented in handsome paint decorated frames with gilt slips. Fine condition.

John Stanesby exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1821 and 1854. His son Joshua was also painting watercolour portraits and interior scenes during the 1840s.