Walter Vavasour

Drawn in pastels, this ‘warts-and-all’ portrait shows Walter Vavasour looking prosperous and satisfied with life. A view of his estates as seen through the window behind him underline that prosperity.

Walter Vavasour was born in Rothwell, Yorkshire in 1744/5. In 1785, aged 40, he married Ann Wortley and with her had three daughters, Anne, Frances and Charlotte. Frances pre-deceased her father so Anne and Charlotte became his co-heiresses upon Walter’s death in 1820 .

The portrait is set with a gilt mount within an ebonised frame with an inner giltwood surround. An old label on the backing board is signed by the artist and reads –

This Picture of Walter Vavasour
was taken in the 70th year of
his age and given by him
to his youngest Daughter 1814.
J Downman R.A.

In a later hand is added –

Walter Vavasour, he died at 1/2 past two o’clock on Saturday morn Novr. 18th 1820.

The son of a Welsh attorney, John Downman (1750-1824) started drawing as a child. Initially educated in Chester and Liverpool, he entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1769 before spending time in Italy. Upon his return to London, his studio became a magnet for fashionable society. He was most successful with his pastel and watercolour portraits and only required a single sitting to capture a likeness.