Victorian Miniature Portrait Pair, Mainwaring Family, Madras Army

This unique pair of miniature Victorian watercolour on card portraits features an English husband and wife. They are both all original watercolors, not over painted photographs. The artist likely used a pair of daguerreotype studio photographs of the sitters as the inspiration for their portraits.

We see Reginald Quintin Mainwaring wearing his handsome military uniform in a seated position. There is sooo much detail to this portrait with his plumed hat and gilt military belt placed on the table. We adore his military insignia. We also love the fashion details, his black whiskers and side burns!! He really does cut a dash in his scarlet red jacket and waistcoat.

The second portrait features his wife Charlotte Law Pinson (b 1831 – d 1881) seated with her arm resting on a book with basket of freshly picked flowers. She wears the fashionable clothing of the 1860s with silk day dress with high neck, voluminous sleeves narrowing at the wrist and large cage crinoline skirt. She loves her jewelry - she wears a choker, long guard chain, dangle earrings, cuff bracelet and rings!!

The paintings are housed behind glass in their original frame. The frames are complete with original backing paper with an ink inscription naming the sitters.

THE SITTERS
Reginald Quintin Mainwaring (b 1828 – d 1930) was born in Calcutta India and died in Bath, Somerset, England. He was General in H.M. Indian Army and later Mayor of Bath 1893. A photograph of Reginald can be found in the Bath In Time Image Library, Image Reference: 48709, Image Reference: 48710. The Madras Army was the army of the Madras Presidency, one of the three presidencies that made up the East India Company. After the Indian Mutiny of 1857 the presidencies and their armies came under the direct authority of the British Crown. From 1861 each army had its own staff corps created to provide and place officers in military, civil and political posts.

He was the son of Thomas Mainwaring (b abt. 1784 – d 1835) of Whitmore Hall, Staffordshire. and Sophia Isabella Mainwaring (b abt. 1780). Thomas was also based in India and married Isabella in India in 1806.

Reginald married Charlotte Law Pinson (b 1831 in India – d 1881) in Madras, India in 1854. Reginald and Charlotte lived in Bath during the late 19th century, at 24 Marlborough Buildings, Bath. Together they had 10 children - Charlotte 29 Nov 1854 (b 30 Jun 1836, d 25 Dec 1881)Alice Maud b 11 Dec 1855, m 2 Jul 1887; Florence Emily b 19 Mar 1857, d 27 Feb 1912; Edward R.R. b 25 Jan 1859; Edith Eliott b 22 Sep 1860, d 14 Feb 1863; Charles Vaughan b 7 May 1862; Gertrude Harriott b 17 Sep 1863; Mabel Esther b 12 Apr 1866, m 18 Aug 1894; Norman Eliott Quintin b 20 Jul 1867; Ethel Mary b 22 Mar 1869, d 28 Dec 1934; Ada Constance b 1 Mar 1871;

Reginald married again after his first wife Charlotte's death. In 1883 he married Caroline (b 24 Dec 1837, d 7 Feb 1909)

This is the perfect item for anyone with a connection to Bath or anyone with an interest in British Indian Army history.

Measuring: Frame width 5 ¼ inch (13.5 cm) by height 7 inch (18 cm). Aperture width 3 7/8 inch (9.5 cm) by height 5 ½ inch (14 cm).

Condition: Unopened. Some age misting trapped under the glass

ITEM ID:14690