What Ever IS is Right

This touching memorial piece is dedicated to John Benbow who died in 1780. Painted in sepia watercolour with chopped hair, it shows a grieving lady weeping by an urn on a stone plinth inscribed ‘The Lord giveth / What ever / IS / Is Right / & the Lord taketh Away’. In the background can be seen a sailing ship and a small castle flying a flag. Two angels hover overhead with a Memento Mori banner. The whole scene is enclosed within a beautiful hair garland decorated with painted leaves.

The presence of the sailing ship suggests that Benbow may have had a career at sea though genealogical research has only uncovered one John Benbow who died in 1780. He was a high constable in Worcestershire who married Mary Brookholding in 1737 and with her fathered a son.

In fine condition, the memorial is set in a silver (untested) frame that is solid reverse.