Sworders
Lot 294
Carlo Ferranti (Italian, 1840-1908),Portrait of Captain William Palgrave (1771-1833), half-length, in the uniform of a Captain in the Norfolk Yeomanry, c.1798;Portrait of Mrs William Palgrave (1780-1863), half-length, in a black dress with a gold shawl, lace fichu and white lace turbana pair, signed and dated 'C Ferranti / 1864' l.r., watercolour on buff paper, oval25 x 20cm (2)William Palgrave was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Palgrave of Coltishall, Norfolk. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Parker of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on 18 October 1798 at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, London. They had twelve children. William Palgrave died in Dublin, where he is buried.The present watercolour is copied by Ferranti from an earlier portrait in oils, known from an engraving by Joseph Brown.A volunteer unit, the Norfolk Yeomanry (originally titled the Norfolk Rangers), was raised in 1782, during the American Revolutionary War by the Hon George Townshend. From its formation, the Norfolk Yeomanry wore the Tarleton pattern helmet, red tunics with gold lace frogging and blue facings, all as illustrated in Ferranti’s watercolour. Along with many other Yeomanry regiments, the Norfolk Yeomanry, as formed in 1782, was disbanded in 1828 although it was twice later recreated.We are grateful to Christopher Joll for his assistance with the catalogue entry.Condition report: Captain Palgrave: the paper is discoloured, and browns more intensely around the sitter. The paper is speckled with light-coloured foxing throughout. Mrs Palgrave: the paper is lightly discoloured, with more intense browns around her turban. There are a few dark prominent spots of foxing, and one or two white spots also. A couple of very tiny water stains to her clothing. Neither seen outside of frames.
