£3,500
A pair of George III neoclassical architectural pine wall brackets for portrait busts, the thin slate tablet to the sloping, tapering front finely inscribed "EDMUND BURKE O Quis, Quis, volet impias Caedes et rabiem tollere civicam Si quaeret pater urbium Subseribi statuis indomitam audeat Refrenare licentiam" or "LORD JOHN CAVENDISH Chancellor of the EXCHEQUER / Cui Purdor et Justitiae soror Incorupta Fides nudaque veritas Quando ullum invenient parem?", the back with recessed iron bar for mounting, redecorated, 36cm h; 20.5 x 37cm
Such was the mutual esteem and personal friendship between the two political allies that on Cavendish's death in 1796, Burke described the former Chancellor of the Exchequer as having "the most honourable and upright mind the world had ever produced".
Warm sentiments and high regard to the two men's abilities and integrity were widespread and enduring, especially so in the case of Burke, whose influence on British Conservatism arguably remains so in the 21st century. They are also reflected in the inscriptions on the present brackets, the quotations from Horace, Odes - Book I, ode 24 and Book III, ode 24.
Near contemporaries, Edmund Burke (1729-1797) needs no introduction. Lord John Cavendish (1736-1796) was the youngest son of William Cavendish, third Duke of Devonshire and his wife Catherine, daughter of John Hopkins.
Busts of both Burke and Cavendish are among those of the Rockingham Circle and displayed together in the Rockingham Mausoleum
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
28.8% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
30.6% inc VAT*
