• Title
  [Elizabeth Gunning, Duchess of Hamilton and of Argyle, ca. 1770 - watercolour on ivory miniature / [attributed to R. Cosway ?]
• Creator
  Richard Cosway, 1740-1821
• Call number
  MIN 60
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. 1770 (dated from costume)
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Watercolours
• Reference code
  202005
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  Drawings - 1 watercolour on ivory miniature encased in wooden rectangular frame painted black with circular shaped glass mounted in brass in centre. At the top centre of the frame is a metal clasp shaped like an acorn with leaves with two metal loops to hang frame. - 7.7 x 6.6 cm. inside frame (sight) - 13.1 x 11.4 cm., frame
  
• ADMINISTRATIVE/ BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
  
  Richard Cosway, baptised in 1742 in Devonshire, was a well-known British miniature artist. Cosway initially trained in London under Thomas Hudson, then moved to a school run by William Shipley (1714-1803). A prolific artist, Cosway exhibited at the Royal Academy and prided himself on the rapidity with which he could produce his miniatures. -- Reference: Miniatures : Dictionary and guide. Daphne Foskett. Woodbridge, Suffolk : Antique Collectors' Club, ca. 1987
  Elizabeth Gunning was born in Hemingford Greys, near Huntingdon in England, but raised in Ireland. Famed for her beauty in face and figure, she married James, the 6th Duke of Hamilton (1725-1758) in 1752. A year after Hamilton's death, Elizabeth married General John Campbell, late 5th Duke of Argyll. -- Reference: Dictionary of National Biography, Vol.23. (ed) L. Stephen & S. Lee. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1890
• Scope and Content
  The female in this portrait is dressed in an eighteenth century open robe with laced stomacher panel and sleeves of white satin and pink stipes trimmed with pearls and lace.
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• General note
  
  A rectangular non-contemporaneous bakelite label with text, "Miss Gunning / afterwards Duchess of Hamilton. / Attributed to R. Cosway, R.A.", accompanies the frame.
  The identity of the portrait and the artist is based on the non-contemporaneous inscription on the reverse of the frame. This information has not been confirmed and is therefore is doubtful.
  This miniature was bequeathed by D.S. Mitchell in 1907. -- Reference: The Public Library of New South Wales : annual report of the Trustees for the year ended 31st December 1908. Sydney : Public Library of New South Wales. Trustees, 1909.
  This item has been digitised as part of the Nelson Meers Foundation Benefaction, 2002
  Digital order no:a128659
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  Handwritten on a paper label on reverse of wooden frame, "miniature of the celebrated / Miss Gunning afterwards / Duchess of Hamilton / R. Cosway R.A. 1785"
• Name
  Gunning, Elizabeth, 1734-1790
  
• Subject
  David Scott Mitchell Collection.
  Adult Females
  
• Topic
  miniatures
  picture frames
  portraits
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - State Library of New South Wales (April-June 2004)
• Open Rosetta viewer
  IE1929193

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