Lot 398: After Hugh Douglas Hamilton, a watercolour on ivory circa 1830 Catherine Maria Bury (née Dawson), Countess of Charleville (1762-1851), holding cymbals in mid-air and wearing white chemise fastened at her arm with three gem set gold brooches, her blue

Catherine Maria Bury (née Dawson), Countess of Charleville (1762-1851), holding cymbals in mid-air and wearing white chemise fastened at her arm with three gem set gold brooches, her blue mantle draped around her right arm and left shoulder, her long loosely curled hair dressed with a wreath of green ivy.
Ormolu frame, the reverse engraved The Rυt. Honble. Catherine Maria,/ Countess of Charleville./ from a painting by/ Hugh Douglas Hamilton./ (Probable date of miniature from 1830-1840)/ Painter unknown., set in wooden letter chest.
Rectangular, 72mm (2 13/16in) high (2)

Catherine Maria Dawson was born on the 22nd December 1762. As her second husband, Catherine married Charles William Bury, 1st Earl of Charleville [Ireland] (1764-1835) on the 4th June 1798. The couple had a son, Charles William Bury, 2nd Earl of Charleville (1801-1851). Both father and son were MPs.

Catherine was the daughter of Thomas Townley Dawson and Joanna Saunders. She was educated in France. Upon her second marriage, Catherine Maria Dawson was styled, Baroness Tullamore of Charleville Forest. She was later styled, Viscountess Charleville of Charleville Forest from the 29th December 1800 and Countess of Charleville from the 16th February 1806. The Countess died on the 24th February 1851 at age of 88 in Cavendish Square, London.