EMMA ELEANORA KENDRICK (c.1788-1871)

after Guercino

(1591-1666)

Sophonisba with the bowl of poison

Ink and wash on paper
87mm x 85mm

SOLD

“Unlike Spencer’s Georgian beautification of Sophonisba, Kendrick remains true to Guercino’s character of the subject, whose face shows the resignation of her fate…”
Emma Eleanora Kendrick was a British miniature painter active during the reigns of King George IV and William IV. The daughter of the sculptor, Joseph Kendrick (b. 1755), Kendrick was presumably introduced to painting through the studio or artist friends of her father. Between 1810 and 1817, she was awarded several prices by the Society of Arts and exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts from 1811 to 1840. In 1831 was appointed miniature painter to Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Homburg and William IV and subsequently gained patronage from royalty and other eminent aristocratic families.

In 1830, Kenrick published Conversations on the Art of Miniature Painting, a volume recording the art of miniature painting through a dialogue with the artist and an imaginary lady ‘Ellen’. Beyond limning however, Kendrick was an accomplished watercolourist and produced numerous paintings of classical, mythological and literary subjects.

The subject of this drawing - Sophonisba, or Saphanba'al, daughter of Hasdrubal - married Syphax whom she thus won over to the Carthaginian cause. When Masinissa and Laelius overthrew Syphax in 203 B.C., Sophonisba took poison sent to her by Masinissa, now enamoured of her and unable by any other means to save her from captivity at Rome. Her new husband encouraged her to die with dignity rather than become a captive. She chose suicide by poison.

The present work show’s Kendrick’s intimate knowledge of the Royal Collection as the image is copied from a sepia drawing attributed to Guercino, which entered the Royal Collection during the reign of George III [RCIN 902420]. The collection also houses the copy of the drawing etched by Bartolozzi, and Kendrick may have used this as her source. The Bartolozzi etching of the same subject was also copied by Lady Elizabeth Spencer (1764-1812), daughter of the 4th Duke of Marlborough [still in the Royal Collection RCIN 913564].

It is likely that this study was undertaken in the early part of Kendrick’s career, when she was still making copies after Old Masters in the same vein as Spencer’s copy – as a suitable way to learn but without having to study a real person or tout for commissions – in other words, a genteel form of art for women. Unlike Spencer’s Georgian beautification of Sophonisba, Kendrick remains true to Guercino’s character of the subject, whose face shows the resignation of her fate.
Taken from an album of drawings after Old Masters by Kendrick;
Private Collection, UK.

shipping notice

Worldwide shipping is included in all prices.

The Limner Company does not accept any responsibility for import duty, this is to be paid by the buyer.

Some stock items contain materials from endangered species which are governed by CITES regulations and will require a permit to export outside of Great Britain. If a certificate of export is required then this will be the responsibility of and paid for by the buyer .

HeaderLogo
Sophonisba with the bowl of poison

EMMA ELEANORA KENDRICK

(c.1788-1871)

Sophonisba with the bowl of poison

This field is mandatory

 

shipping notice

The item added to cart contains materials from endangered or protected species. The Limner Company cannot arrange for the delivery of artworks containing ivory, tortoiseshell, or mother of pearl outside of the UK due to import restrictions. The buyer or designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale.

You are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of any items made from or containing certain endangered or protected species (such as ivory, tortoiseshell, or mother of pearl), while other countries will require a permit (e.g. a CITES licence). Such permits must be obtained from the relevant regulatory body in both the country of importation and exportation. If you intend to import such items into another country you should familiarise yourself with the relevant customs regulations and laws before purchase. Delays or refusal of import or export of such works shall not permit cancellation of a sale. It is your responsibility to satisfy any laws or regulations applying to the import or export of any work containing such protected species. For further information on the protected species listed please visit the CITES website:http://www.cites.org/. For further information about import and export regulations please visit:http://www.defra.gov.uk/ahvla-en/imports-exports/cites/. On request, the Company can assist with or apply for a license on your behalf.

Please contact us to discuss shipping options..

checkout details

Your basket exceeds the allowed online transaction limit of £10,000. Please remove an item from your basket to continue to checkout. Successive online sales totalling £10,000 are also prohibited. Please get in touch if you would like to move forward with the purchase in accordance with anti-money laundering regulation.


Under the terms of the anti-money laundering regulation we are required to conduct customer due diligence (CDD) on all sales of works of art over £10,000 before the transaction is carried out. While therefore we may agree to such a sale in principle, we will not be able to conclude (i.e. receive funds, give up possession or transfer title) it until we have received all the necessary CDD information from you and have been able to verify it as required by the regulation.

shipping TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Worldwide shipping is included in all prices.

The Limner Company does not accept any responsibility for import duty, this is to be paid by the buyer.

See Section 7.5 in Terms & Conditions for information on export/import regulations. Please contact us to discuss shipping options. Some stock items contain materials from endangered species which are governed by CITES regulations and will require a permit to export outside of Great Britain. If a certificate of export is required then this will be the responsibility of and paid for by the buyer.

See Section 7.5 in Terms & Conditions for information on export/import regulations.

Please contact us to discuss shipping options.

you may also like