Lot 177: Robert Dowling (British, 1827-1886) The three eldest children of Frederick John Howard M.P. (1814-1897) and his wife Lady Fanny Cavendish: William and George, standing and wearing blue dresses with gold buttons, white concertina collars and red

The three eldest children of Frederick John Howard M.P. (1814-1897) and his wife Lady Fanny Cavendish: William and George, standing and wearing blue dresses with gold buttons, white concertina collars and red tartan sashes, cream petticoats, white socks and black pumps; Louisa, seated on an upholstered chair and holding a doll, wearing white dress with blue sash, coral necklace, white stockings and black pumps.
Watercolour on paper, gilded wood frame, label on the reverse inscribed William Frederick/ George Francis/ and/ Louisa Blanche/ Howard/ children of Fredυk John & Lady Fanny Howard/ copy by Dowling/ from the original by H. B. Ziegler/ painted in 1844.
Rectangular, 390mm (15 3/8in) high

Lady Fanny Cavendish was the only sister of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire K.G. Frederick Howard of Compton Place, Eastbourne was a grandson of Frederick Howard of Castle Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle, K.T., K.G. and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. His father was a Major in the 10th Hussars and was killed at the battle of Waterloo. Lady Fanny and Frederick Howard married in 1837 and had eight children. The three eldest depicted in this portrait all married. Louisa Blanche married Lieutenant Cecil George Savile Foljambe R.N. of Haselbeach, Northants. She died soon after the birth of her second child, a son who only survived one day.