Edward Bird

Edward Bird, RA (British, 1772-1819) Sportsmen in a Tavern Interior with Spaniels inscribed on the reverse "Edward Bird" oil on copper h:17 w:22 cm Estimate £300-400 Under glass, craquelure overall, perhaps a little dirty. A few small retouchings otherwise paint layering is in a reasonable condition

DESCRIPTION a pair, both half length, he wearing a blue coat and white cravat, she wearing a white dress and fur wrap oil on canvas, in their original gilt frames Quantity: 2 LITERATURE AND REFERENCES Lord Coleridge K. C., The Story of a Devonshire House, 1905, illus. opp. p.62 CATALOGUE NOTE James Coleridge was the eldest surviving son of the Rev. John Coleridge and his second wife Ann Bowden. He was born in 1759 and was educated by his father at the King?s School until 1775 when he was commissioned into the Army. He rose from Ensign to Captain in the 6 th Regiment of Foot (later 1 st Warwickshire Regiment) but retired as a professional soldier after his marriage in 1788 to a local heiress. His wife Frances Taylor was the ultimate beneficiary of the Duke family of Otterton. Her inheritance allowed the family to move from Tiverton to Ottery St. Mary where they acquired Heath House, later known as the Chanter?s House, in 1796. Not only was the house the best dwelling in the town it also had strong family links having once been lived in by the Duke family. Once settled in the town, ?the Colonel? as he was known took an active role in public affairs, not least in the Volunteer movement. The threat of war with France saw the emergence of numerous volunteer forces throughout England and in Devon Coleridge became a Colonel in the Exmouth and Sidmouth Volunteers and later in the East Devon Militia. He was also aide de camp to General Simcoe who was in charge of the Western Division. His experience in the army was a boon to his younger brother Samuel Taylor, the poet, who had rashly joined the 15 th Light Dragoons under a false name in 1793 and had to be extracted. The Colonel and his wife had six sons, five of whom reached maturity. They included John Taylor, the Judge, Edward Taylor, Fellow of Eton College and Henry Nelson who married the poet?s daughter Sara. Their daughter Frances married Sir John Patteson and was the mother of John Coleridge Patteson, Bishop of Melanesia (see lot 82). These portraits are by the Bristol based artist Edward Bird whose paintings, often indebted to those of Sir David Wilkie, have an appealing honesty.

Edward Bird, R.A. (Wolverhampton 1772-1819 Bristol) The Dance Hall oil on panel 28 7/8 x 45 in. (73.3 x 114.3 cm.)

Edward Bird (British, 1772-1819) The Auction oil on panelsigned 'E. BIRD' lower left 64 x 98cm PROVENANCE In the collectionof Alfred Ernest Bright, Chairman of the Trustees of the FeltonBequest to the National Gallery of Victoria. Thence bydescent.