Name/Title

Painting, Untitled [Woman in Georgian dress]

About this object

This miniature watercolour portrait pictures a woman in Georgian-style clothing. It is believed that this woman is Sarah Isabella Clendon (nee Hill), the wife of James Reddy Clendon. Sarah and James married in Port Jackson (Sydney) on 2 October 1826, and returned to England where their first child, James Stephenson Clendon, was born in January 1827.

In 1828, Sarah once again travelled to the Antipodes, accompanying her husband who captained a ship transporting female prisoners to the convict settlement of Port Jackson. When the prisoners were delivered, Sarah and James travelled to New Zealand and in January 1829, Sarah gave birth to their second child, Eliza Chitty Clendon at sea off Hokianga. They then returned to England in 1830.

On 9 October 1931 Sarah gave birth to her third child, Ellen Frances Clendon, more commonly known as Fanny. The following year, the Clendon family permanently moved to New Zealand, arriving in the Bay of Islands on 31 August 1832.

Sarah had three more children – Mary Parson on 11 September 1834, Sarah Ann on 5 May 1837, and Kate Erridge on 13 November 1839 – before she died in Kororareka in 1855.

For more information about the Clendon family and Clendon House, which is cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, visit our website.

Medium and Materials

Paper and wood

Inscription and Marks

On the reverse of the new matt backing are the marks 'F W' and 'Mrs Lu... Free ...'

Technique

Watercolour

Measurements

Painting - 8.9 x 6.9cm
Frame - 16 x 16.6 x 2.1cm

Subject and Association Keywords

Girlhood

Credit Line

Collection of Clendon House, Heritage New Zealand Historic Pouhere Taonga

Object Type

Painting

Object number

XCH.41.2

Copyright Licence  

All rights reserved

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