Sir Robert Peel framed antique mezzotint print very rare possibly the only copy outside of a Museum. British Prime Minister and politician in the first half of the 19th century, Sir Robert Peel is credited with founding the UK Police Service as we know it today.

Sir Robert Peel Bt after Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) by Samuel Cousins ARA (1788-1850) Prime Minister. Possibly 2nd State proof. Approx sizes: Frame 31 ¼” x 25 ¾” or 79.5 cm x 65.5 cm, sheet 29” x 23 ½” or 73.5 cm x 59.5 cm, plate 22 3/4" x 16 7/8" or 57.5 cm x 42.8 cm.

Condition: Examined out of frame. Held behind glass in an old gilt decorated frame. Very little decorative moulding missing and the frame is solid. A few foxing spots. The image is strong. Sheet is partially stuck on the edge to the wooden backboard. The shading is from the printing process, not mount burn. There is no glue residue on the sheet.

Mezzotint portrait of a man, three-quarter length, standing directed slightly to the left, head turned to look right, in short jacket with a velvet collar, left hand on his hip, right hand on a table; after Lawrence (Garlick 1989: 637); before 1850 Mixed method.

Frame offered as used and with no commercial value. Glass removed for shipping. All intact and ready to hang if collected by arrangement.

We gladly combine shipping where possible. Please buy but do not pay and ask for an invoice.

Provenance: With A. T. Leeming, Deansgate. Manchester and John Clowes Grundy ((1806-1867). Print seller to The Queen. 4 Exchange St. Manchester.

Picture bibliography: Whitman 126.i

British Museum ref: 1926,1113.29

Only feint lettering below image Samuel Cousins ARA

Reference Art Collection Samuel Cousins

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Further information:

Colnaghi (publisher/printer; dealer/auction house; British; 1760; Established)

Samuel Cousins (printmaker; British; Male; 1801 - 1887) of 104 Great Russell Street 163 Albany Street, Regents Park, London (in 1832) 24 Camden Square, London (1857-87)

Biography: One of the leading mezzotint engravers of his generation. Born in Exeter; apprentice (1814-18) and thereafter assistant to Samuel William Reynolds, contributed to S W Reynolds's series of prints after Joshua Reynolds (see Whitman's catalogue). His younger brother Henry Cousins also a printmaker. In 1872, planning retirement, he deposited at the British Museum an almost complete set of his work, but in the event continued to publish for at least another 12 years.

Bibliography: Alfred Whitman, 1904

R K Engen, 'Dictionary of Victorian Engravers, Print Publishers and Their Works', 1979. 

Sir Thomas Lawrence (painter/draughtsman; collector; British; Male; 1769 - 1830)

Biography: Portraitist and collector of Old Master drawings. Born in Bristol 1769; died in London 1830. Settled in Bath by 1780; some training from William Hoare; in London 1787, attended RA Schools for three months; exhibited RA 1787-1830; ARA 1791; RA 1794; President of RA 1820; made Painter in Ordinary to the King 1792; Trustee of the British Museum. Although his collections of drawings was offered 'en bloc' for £18,000 to King George IV and the British Museum, the dealer Samuel Woodburn finally bought it for £16,000 after which Lawrence's collection was dispersed after his death by Samuel Woodburn (q.v.), particularly at his posthumous sale at Christie's, 4-8.vi.1860. Many lots were bought by Thomas Phillipps which eventually entered the BM's collection in 1946; other drawings were sold to William Esdaile and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.

Bibliography: Kenneth Garlick, 'A catalogue of the paintings, drawings, and pastels of Sir TL', in 'The Walpole Society' XXXIX 1962/4; replaced only for the paintings by

Kenneth Garlick, 'Sir TL, a complete catalogue of the oil paintings', Phaidon 1989

Lugt 2445 (drawings), Lugt 2446 (prints)

Sir Robert Peel Bt (1788-1850) Prime Minister

Biography

Tory politician. 1809, elected to Parliament. Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1812-18; Home Secretary, 1822-27, 1828-30; Prime Minister, 1834-35, 1841-46. Trustee of the British Museum. Collector of Dutch XVIIc paintings, which are now in the National Gallery. In satirical prints c. 1829, shown as a rat-catcher in reference to his "ratting on", i.e. deserting, in 1829 the Protestant stand against Catholic Emancipation.

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