Join Head of Fine Art Nick Curnow and Associate Specialist Chantal de Prez as they discuss Sir Edward Burne-Jones' wonderful portraits of Katie Lewis and her mother Lady Elizabeth Lewis featuring in our 04 & 05 September Five Centuries auction.
Elizabeth (Betty) Eberstadt, daughter of Ferdinand Eberstadt of Mannheim , married George Lewis in 1867. He was one of the most eminent solicitors of the day, and was knighted for his services in connection with the Parnell Commission. Burne-Jones relied on him for professional advice, and by the 1880's and 90's had become a close friend of the Lewis family. He corresponded at length with Lady Lewis and the younger of the two daughters, Katie, and both mother and daughter sat to him for portraits or pencil drawings.
Burne-Jones wrote a series of letters to Katie Lewis who subsequently donated them to the British Museum. These range from the purest nursery fantasy to a rumbustious rendering of King Copetua a la Rubens (H & W, fig. 202) and drawings of the artist trying to climb inside a picture (H & W, figs. 209-13).
We are delighted to offer these wonderful portraits in our September 2024 Five Centuries auction.
