Sir Anthony Cleasby

Inscriptionback to top

Signed (lower right): Spy Inscribed on the mount: The Hon: Sir Anthony Cleasby. February 5, 1876.

This portraitback to top

This is one of a large collection of original studies for Vanity Fair, which were owned and specially mounted by the first proprietor of the magazine, Thomas Bowles. The water-colour of Cleasby was published in Vanity Fair as a coloured lithograph, on 5 February 1876, with the title, 'Formerly of the Carlton'.

Physical descriptionback to top

Healthy complexion, grey wig, white and black judge's robes. Seated on a red bench, before a grey desk.

Provenanceback to top

Thomas Bowles: Vanity Fair Sale, Christie's, 5 March 1912 (lot 153); Maggs Brothers, purchased from them, 1934.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

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