This post has been updated and much enlarged upon
The Cossins and Innys Families of Redland Court, Bristol.
in the 18th Century.
The busts of John and Martha Cossins and William and John Innys.
by Michael Rysbrack.
Now in the Redland Chapel, Redland. Bristol.
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The Bust of John Cossins (1682 - 1759).
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Martha Cossins, nee Innys (- 1762).
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Notes -
Much of the information gathered here first appeared in
Michael Rysbrack Sculptor 1694 - 1770. by Katherine Eustace - Exhibition Catalogue. City of Bristol Art Gallery 1982.
and A Place Full of Rich and Industrious People - Katherine Eustace - in British Art Journal Vol VII Spring Summer 2006.
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John Cossins (1682 -1759).
of Redland Court, Redland, Bristol.
Formerly of St Pauls Church Yard, Grocer.
Oil on canvas.
743 x 615 mm.
This pair of portraits have been attributed traditionally to John Vanderbank (1694 - 1739).
Both in very good matching carved frames of the period - which have been regilded.
Currently these portraits are at Redland Court on loan but due to return to Redland Chapel shortly.
Redland Court has recently been sold to developers and the School is being amalgamated with another private girls school.
There is a paper label on the back perhaps in the hand of John Innys (Eustace):
"John Cossins of Redland Court Esqr. Son of Roger Cossins of London by Martha one of the five Daughters and Co-Heiress of Francis Saville of London Esqr. He was born in London Feb. 20. 1682 Married Martha the youngest daughter of Andrew Innys of Bristol Gent. Feb. 5. 1714 Bought the mansion of Redland Court Jul. 18. 1732 Rebuilt the mansion House which was finished July 14. 1735 paid his Fine for Sherriffe of London and Middlesex June 23. 1737 Built the Chapel at Redland which was opened Oct. 5. 1743 was appointed High Sherriffe for the County of Gloucester Feb. 25. 1755 Was sworn into that office Mar. 10. 175: but was represented by his Brother in Law John Innys. He departed this Life at Redland Court April 19. 1759Aged 77. And was interred in the Vault under the Communion Table Post Funera Vertus. J. Vanderbank P."
George Vertue noted that "only intemperance prevented him from being the greatest portraitist of his generation
The copy of the Entombment by Anibale Carracci formerly at Houghton, bought by Catherine the Great and subsequently destroyed in a fire in the Hermitage in St Peterberg is also attributed to Vanderbank.
Shiercliff in The Bristol and Hotwell Guide 1793 ascribes the Entombment to Moses Vanderbank the brother of John - (Eustace - I couldn't find a ref to Moses V in a copy of the Guide available online
see - https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo1.ark:/13960/t55d9hq78;view=1up;seq=7
Eustace notes that given the death of John Vanderbank in 1739, a year before work began on the Redland Chapel the attribution to Moses Vanderbank (fl 1720-45) is more likely.
Mrs Martha Cossins nee Innys (d. 1762).
Daughter of Andrew Innys.
These portraits have been attributed in the past to John Vanderbank (1694 - 1739).
Both have the scrubbed appearance of being over restored, particularly that of Mrs Cossins.
The copy in the Redland Chapel of the Entombment by Anibale Carracci formerly at Houghton, Norfolk, the original bought by Catherine the Great and subsequently destroyed in a fire in the Hermitage in St Peterberg and attributed to Vanderbank.
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Michael Rysbrack.
John Vanderbank.
Oil on Canvas.
1257 x 1003mm.
c.1728.
National Portrait Gallery.
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Michael Rysbrack.
by John Vanderbank 1728.
Mezzotint by John Faber Jr.
358 x 257 mm.
National Portrait Gallery.
Vanderbank was fairly prolific and given to having a good time but I publish these images to indicate that he and Rysbrack were probably fairly close acquaintances.
These two images from the NPG and published on this blog to coincide with
Printed Stone: Sculpture and its Images.
A workshop at the Institute of Advanced Studies, University
College London, 12 June 2017
Organized by by Brigid von Preussen and Cora Gilroy-Ware.
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Another portrait possibly of Michael Rysbrack (Philip Mould).
possibly John Vanderbank?
Oil on Canvas.
902 x 704 mm
image courtesy Philip Mould, Historical Portraits
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Drawing possibly by Vanderbank of an Artist.
Squared for possible enlarging.
380 x 280 mm.
Croft Murray suggests that this is a reduced copy of a painting signed and dated Vander Banc Fecit 1729.
Image -British Museum
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Redland Court - Scottish Architect John Strahan.
Redland Court c. 1735.
John Strahan (d. 1742).
Signed by Strahan bottom right.
Image British Library.
Gerry Nichols notes in 2013 on the BL Website -
This original
frontage was changed in 1747 by the addition of two extra bays making the
proportions 2/3/2. The original 1/3/1 proportions are still visible on the rear
elevation. The building is still in use as Redland High School for Girls.
Strahan probably came to Bristol from Scotland - the Innys (Innes) family - aristocratic from Morrayshire were also originally from Scotland.
see Article by Bryan Little -
http://www.alha.org.uk/2%20Avon%20Past%20v.9%20-%20Autumn%201983.pdf
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Redland Court, Redland in about 1912.
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Redland Chapel 1788.
Drawing Samuel Hieronymus Grimm.
1788.
British Library
Comment by Gerry Nichols on British Library webpage.
"Most of the interior carvings were completed when the
Chapel was opened, as Thomas Paty the carver submitted his invoice for £106 8s
0d on 4 June 1743.
A few details such as the pulpit canopy (1744) and three
cherubim heads (1747) followed.
All of the oak panelling was installed by
William Brooks in May 1742. The wall around the churchyard was not completed
until 1753.
[Sources Redland Chapel and Redland H J Wilkins 1924 J W Arrowsmith
Bristol Redland 791 to 1800 J.Charlton & D.M.Milton 1951 J.W.Arrowsmith
Bristol]"
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Comment on the British Library webpage says -
"This
is almost certainly a Thomas Paty drawing of the original design for the
decoration of the interior of Redland Chapel. The niches for the busts of John
and Martha Cossins were not made in accordance with this drawing but had
rounded heads. The busts carved by Michael Rusbrack in 1734 were brought from
Redland Court and installed in the niches on 12 July 1762 after the death of
John and Martha.
In 1860 as part of a re-ordering of the Chapel, two lower
arches were pierced in this wall with rounded heads".
Source Redland and Redland
Chapel H J Wilkins 1924 J W Arrowsmith. London.
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Photograph taken by the author.9 June 2017.
The Monument in the Vestry, Redland Chapel erected at the Expense of John Innys.
Drawings
of a monument in the Vestry of Redland Chapel, erected by John Innys. It has
inscriptions for family members, including his two sisters Martha (married to
John Cossins Esq who built the estate and chapel) and Ann Innys. Also Nicholas
Marissal and his wife Mary (sister to John Cossins) are included. John Cossins
came from a wealthy grocer's family in London and he married the daughter of a
Bristol merchant Andrew Innys, settled in Bristol and bought the Redland Court
estate. He replaced the old manor house with a fashionable classical mansion
and he also built this chapel in a similar style.
"This
monument was designed and executed by Thomas Paty of Bristol and finished on 15
July 1762. It includes the date of Martha Cossins death (11 February 1762). (added later - my comment see Eustace?)
Source Redland and Redland Chapel H.J.Wilkins 1924, Arrowsmith. Bristol".
Comment by Gerry Nichols of 2013 on the British Library webpage.
Source of image and info. - British Library.
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Drawing of Interior of The Redland Chapel by James Stewart Junior c. 1750.
Detail.
Detail
Drawing of Interior of The Redland Chapel by James Stewart Junior.
The British Library website has a comment that the figures represented are John and Martha Cossins on the left and Elizabeth ,William (bookseller) and John Innys* on the right.
Image Courtesy British Library.
