Giles Hussey 1710-1788 English School 18th.Century. Exquisite Pencil Portrait Study of an infant. Traditionally held to be The Honourable Juliana Arundell as a child. (Unfortunately Juliana's dates of 1791-1843, do not match the age of this particular work). Signed and dated lower right 1746. 14 by 21.5 cms.
Hussey was born in Dorset. His parents sent him to receive a Catholic education at Douai in France. On his return he was apprenticed to Jonathan Richardson to learn the art of portraiture. He then went on to work under the Venetian Vicenzo Damini.
After journeying through France in 1730, where substantial funds were spent, Damini abandoned Hussey in Bologna after taking his property. Hussey subsequently made it to Rome. It was there in 1734 that Hussey made his renowned portrait of the "Young Pretender" Charles Edward Stuart.
His portraits were much admired and sought after in his lifetime, much collected in the past they are now quite rare to find outside of institutions.