Lot 92: John Duvall (British, 1816-1892) Portrait of the Biddell Children of Playford together with their nursemaid and a donkey before Pogson's Farm, Playford

John Duvall (British, 1816-1892)
Portrait of the Biddell Children of Playford together with their nursemaid and a donkey before Pogson's Farm, Playford
signed and dated 'J Duvall 1861' (lower right)
oil on canvas
71 x 91cm (27 15/16 x 35 13/16in).
Provenance: By family descent from Lucy Biddell.
The children depicted are known to be members of the Biddell family. The date of the picture would suggest the subjects may be Arthur Biddell (b.1856), Lucy Biddell (b.1860), and Mary Biddell (b. 1861). Duvall had close links with the family; the children's uncle Herman Biddell was the author of The Suffolk Stud book, published 1880, for which Duvall provided illustrations, it is through this association that Duvall became the artist most principally known for depictions of Suffolk horses.