Thomas Gifford - Hewetson in Rome (Part 10)

 

Post under construction.

Hewetson in Rome (part 10).

Thomas Gifford 1764 - 1823

of Chillington Hall, Staffordshire.

now National Trust

The Marble Bust.

66cms.

Christopher Hewetson.

It is inscribed 1784 but I suspect the inscription might be later.

A bust of Gifford was still in the studio of Hewetson when he died in 1798.

This confusing if it is the same bust, but might suggest a certain delay in payment to Hewetson by Giffard.

Thomas Gifford travelled on his Grand Tour with his tutor Charles Berrington to France Italy and Germany in 1784.

In March 1784 they were in Rome in a party with John Parkinson, Jonas Brooke, Sir James Graham and Thomas Brand being instructed by James Byres

Brand described them as "English Catholics and of course Bigots" Berington was his Tutor chaplain priest and even a Doctor of the Sorbonne & of course learned in Baptismal and obstetrical ceremonies He is a very plain, sensible and good sort of man &and would be very well if the boy were not such a bigot" (Brand Letters MSS 26 March 1784)

He sat to Pompeo Batoni (see below) and Christopher Hewetson - He was in Milan by June 1784 and had reached Lyon by 14 July.

Images here from the Mellon Photographic Archive.

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Some Excellent recent images of the Bust of Thomas Gifford at Chillington.

It has sustained some damage particularly to the tip of the nose but these faults could be easily rectified by a competent restorer, without compromising the sculpture.

A gentle wash and the touching in of the nose would vastly improve the look of it - any temptation to repolish should be avoided at all costs. I would replace the missing ears of the socle.

I am very grateful to Claire Dolman at Chillington Hall for providing me with these images.

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His daughter Maria Catherine Giffard (d. 1821) was married in 1792 to Sir John Throckmorton (below) who also sat to Hewetson - the bust is at Coughton, Warks - Nat Trust.

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Thomas Gifford. (possibly??).

 Supposedly by George Chinnery (1774 - 1832) probably not.

120 x 100 mm.

Image National Trust website.

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Thomas Giffard.

Pompeo Baton.

1784.

I am awaiting a better image.

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Thomas Peter Giffard (1735 - 76), the father of Thomas Gifford.

1768

by Pompeo Batoni.