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Half length portrait of Sir Robert Williames Vaughan, Baronet (1804-1859), oil on canvas.

Sir Robert is holding a letter dated March 16th 1825 addressed to him at Balliol, Oxford. The college is shown to one side of the background with a classic column to the other.

(A companion painting in the National Library of Wales shows his father holding a letter bearing a Member of Parliament free stamp.). Signed on the front:

"S. Drummond. Pinxit. 1825"
On the reverse:
"Samuel Drummond ARA 1825".

The printed label of the artist (1785-1844) sealing the frame gives his scale of charges. Original gesso moulded frame.

(Frame Measurements)
37.75" wide, 45.75" high
96 cms wide, 116 cms high

Ref: 4210

£ 5800

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THE VAUGHANS OF NANNAU

Nannau near Dolgellau was the home of one of the leading native gentry families in the Tudor period and an important centre of bardic patronage.

In 1719, after the death of Colonel Huw Nannau (father of Katherine Exhibit 1), his elder daughter Janet married her cousin Robert Vaughan of Hengwrt, establishing the pre-eminent family in Meirionydd. Their son, Hugh (Exhibit 2), lived a lavish lifestyle in London and at his mansion, virtually bankrupting the estate before fleeing his creditors. He was succeeded by his brother whose son, Sir Robert Willames Vaughan re-built the mansion and continued the family occupation of Member of Parliament, representing the county on fourteen successive occassions. His son, also Sir Robert Williames Vaughan (Exhibit 3) married Frances Lloyd of Rhagett (Exhibit 4) in 1835. One of the guests, W.W.E. Wynne of Peniarth wrote to the groom of the occassion:
“The feeling manifested in the neighbourhood was really worthy of old times when the words Radical and Reform were unknown.”

The items on display here have remained in the family until this year, when they were disposed of by a descendant of the original owners.