WD4448

Bust portrait of Mrs. Shearman Bird, c.1810. She is depicted full face with auburn curls, wearing a black décolleté dress trimmed with lace, a red shawl, and a large black hat with ostrich feathers, together with a fancy diamond ensemble.

Inscribed on card inside frame: ‘Mrs Shearman Bird née Louisa Blenkimsopp.’

Water-colour heightened with gum arabic on ivory; 117 by 87 mm: in a gilt mounted black wooden frame, 180 by 147 mm.

Provenance: By descent in the family of Shearman Bird: Christie’s sale 7 November 1988, lot 92; Bonhams 25 November 1998. Purchased 1999.

Note: Shearman Bird Junior (1783-1824) was the son of Shearman Bird Senior (b.1749). who spent his career in Bengal: appointed 1756, he did not finally retire until 1819 as Judge of the Provincial Court of Appeal at Dacca. Chinnery in 1817 drew a well-known portrait of him seated. His son and namesake was appointed to the Bengal Service in 1800. After studying at the College of Fort William, his first appointment was Register at the Zillah Court at Dacca, where he remained until 1815. He married Louisa Cotes Blenkinsop at Dacca on 19 June 1809. He was appointed Judge and Magistrate of the Zillah Court at Purnea from December 1815 to August 1818, when he returned to Dacca as Judge and Magistrate of the City Court there. He died in Dacca in 1824.

This portrait of a young woman was probably painted on or shortly after her wedding, when both Chinnery and D’Oyly were based in Dacca. The painting lacks Chinnery’s finish and style, and is possibly by the young Charles D’Oyly.