Thomas Watson after Sir Joshua Reynolds.

Lady Bampfylde.

25 x 15

A full-length mezzotint engraving by Thomas Watson after the portrait by Joshua Reynolds, published in London in 1779.

Lady Bampfylde was born in 1754, the eldest daughter of Admiral Sir John Moore Bart. She married Sir Charles Warwick Bampfylde in 1776 but then proceeded to live much of her married life separate from her husband. She did, however, return to London in 1823 when her husband was shot, by a man named Morland. She died in Egham in 1832 leaving her only son who later became Lord Poltimore.

Thomas Watson was born in London in 1743 and died there in 1781. His earlier prints were published by Sayer. By the early 1770's he appears to have been working from Broad Street then moving on to New Bond Street where he set up in partnership with Dickinson. His style is bold and powerful, very similar to that of Dickinson with whom he worked. There is no evidence to suggest that he was any relation of the famous mezzotint engraver James Watson, although both were working in London at the same time.

£975