Attributed to Richard Cosway RA (British, 1742-1821) An erotic scene

watercolour on ivory, oval, set in a closing circa 1840-1850 rectangular case with an oval inner gilt-metal mount, Ivory Declaration Submission Reference: K8RYLMLR Ivory - Important Information: This lot contains ivory material. Please be advised that several countries, including those in the EU and the USA, now prohibit the importation of ivory items unless under specific conditions. Accordingly, prospective buyers should familiarise themselves with the relevant customs regulations of their country and ensure they are able to import this item prior to bidding. 8 x 6.25cm, According to an inserted label in pen and ink on paper, dated 18 November 1881: 'This miniature painted by "Etty" by order of Lieutenant Heald 2nd Life Guards. was intended for “Lola Montez”, but was given to Miss Julia Wilson an actress, who gave it to a friend of mine from whom I had it, H. W. P. Manchider(?) Nov. 18/1881'; acquired by Urban Huttleston Rogers Broughton, 1st Baron Fairhaven (1896-1966), Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire. The pose of the two figures in this miniature is based on an engraving 'Énée et Didon' by Jacques Joseph Coiny (1761-1809) from the collection of engravings or erotic scenes from ’The Loves of the Gods’: 'L’Arétin d’Augustin Carrache ou Recueil de postures érotiques' (Paris, 1798). These engravings were either based on engravings after Agostino Carracci on ’The Loves of the Gods’, or the notorious sixteen woodcuts made by Marcantonio Raimondi, probably in collaboration with Giulio Romano. Richard Cosway, who was a well-known libertine in London during the 1760s and 1770s, was known then to have painted erotic miniatures to decorate gentlemen's snuffboxes. Hitherto, none of these erotic miniatures have survived. Cosway sometimes painted women in some of his mythological oil paintings with an overt sexualisation. See his small RA diploma work of 1771, the full-frontal 'Venus and Cupid', octagonal oil on panel (stolen from the RA in 1810, later recovered, then stolen again from the RA in the 1970s, remaining unrecovered to this day). His oil painting of 'David and Bathsheba', which was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1798, was withdrawn from public show on account of the artist's depiction of the full-frontal naked Bathsheba. Richard Cosway is not known to have painted miniatures in full watercolour on ivory, mainly concentrating on the face and body with colour, and a light blue and white or grey sky backgrounds. However, the sensuous subject matter and softly painted facture is very typical of his miniatures, drawings and oil paintings. This must have been a one-off commission for a specific client, though its origins are completely undocumented. The work has another intriguing side on account of its apparent provenance. The work was bought as an intended gift for one of the most famous mistresses of the 19th century. Born as Rosanna Gilbert in Ireland in 1821, Lola Montez had, by her mid-twenties, already been married to an Indian army officer, taken to the stage as a Spanish dancer, and been mistress of Franz Liszt and possibly Alexandre Dumas. She then seduced and so enthralled Ludwig I of Bavaria that she was ennobled as Countess Landsfeld. On returning to London, she encountered the young guards officer, George Trafford Heald, who had just inherited a fortune worth £10,000 per annum. Despite her being married, they hurried to the altar in July 1849. By August, the besotted couple were in court on a charge of bigamy, from where they absconded to Boulogne. At some point, this love token was bought by Heald for her, however, the relationship soon soured. By 1851, Lola had abandoned not only Heald but Europe itself, and was established as an actress, trading on her title, in San Francisco, followed by Australia, and then New York, where she eventually died in 1861 and is buried in Brooklyn. An inscription on a label within suggests the miniature was eventually given to an untraced actress called Miss Julia Wilson (see description). We are grateful to Dr Stephen Lloyd for his assistance with this catalogue entry. Dr Lloyd is the leading authority on the artist and is currently working on Cosway's catalogue of works, which will include this item, , We are grateful to Dr Stephen Lloyd for his assistance with this catalogue entry. Dr Lloyd is the leading authority on the artist and is currently working on Cosway's catalogue of works, which will include this item, Condition Report, Condition Report, This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

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