William Wood
Hannah Frances Crozier (nee Pearson) (b. 1779), wearing white dress, a grey shawl over her arm, landscape background, 1798
Watercolour and bodycolour on ivory
Oval, 3 3/4 in. (95 mm) high
Philip Mould & Co.
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com Hannah was the second eldest daughter of the distinguished naval hero Sir Richard Pearson (1731-1806) and was named after her...
To view all current artworks for sale visit philipmould.com
Hannah was the second eldest daughter of the distinguished naval hero Sir Richard Pearson (1731-1806) and was named after her paternal grandmother. Hannah’s mother was Margaret (nee Harrison) of Appleby. Her elder sister was Mary Pearson who was briefly engaged to Jane Austen’s brother Henry, possibly providing the author with the inspiration for ‘Lydia’ in Pride and Prejudice. Hannah had four brothers, one of whom also entered the navy (Vice-Admiral Richard Harrison Pearson).[1]
The current portrait by William Wood was painted while Sir Richard Pearson was retired and working at Greenwich hospital (noted by the artist in his fee book), where he became lieutenant-governor. Born at Dover, Hannah married Rawson Boddam Crozier of West Hill, Isle of Wight (1775-1849) in 1802 and had six surviving sons and one daughter. Their eldest son Richard (undoubtedly named after his grandfather) also had a distinguished naval career. Richard was born in Bombay like his father had been, so it appears the family were taken back to India by Rawson’s position as Captain in the Engineers. By 1810 they were settled in Bath where their third son was born.[2]
William Wood painted this lively portrait of Hannah when she was just nineteen years old, an age when many girls were leaving the family home to join another when they married. An almanack printed in 1796 shows her future husband stationed in Bombay, so he may have still been in India when her portrait miniature was painted. As the miniature of Hannah and her sister Mary were painted at the same time it is possible that they were commissioned by their parents in anticipation of both girls leaving home. Although Hannah married and moved away in 1802 to begin a family of her own, after her failed engagement to Henry Austen Mary did not marry until 1815 and had no children. Wood’s fee book, now in the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum is a rare and valuable source of information on his patrons, his pricing and techniques.
[1] It would appear that Henry Austen met Mary Pearson when he was stationed at Sheerness and the couple were quickly betrothed. It was around this time that Jane began her novel First Impressions, later to be renamed Pride and Prejudice – in it she notes the attraction of military men to vulnerable young women like Mary Pearson.
[2] Information taken from ed. J. Burke, B. Burke, ‘The Patrician’, Vol. 6, p. 407
Hannah was the second eldest daughter of the distinguished naval hero Sir Richard Pearson (1731-1806) and was named after her paternal grandmother. Hannah’s mother was Margaret (nee Harrison) of Appleby. Her elder sister was Mary Pearson who was briefly engaged to Jane Austen’s brother Henry, possibly providing the author with the inspiration for ‘Lydia’ in Pride and Prejudice. Hannah had four brothers, one of whom also entered the navy (Vice-Admiral Richard Harrison Pearson).[1]
The current portrait by William Wood was painted while Sir Richard Pearson was retired and working at Greenwich hospital (noted by the artist in his fee book), where he became lieutenant-governor. Born at Dover, Hannah married Rawson Boddam Crozier of West Hill, Isle of Wight (1775-1849) in 1802 and had six surviving sons and one daughter. Their eldest son Richard (undoubtedly named after his grandfather) also had a distinguished naval career. Richard was born in Bombay like his father had been, so it appears the family were taken back to India by Rawson’s position as Captain in the Engineers. By 1810 they were settled in Bath where their third son was born.[2]
William Wood painted this lively portrait of Hannah when she was just nineteen years old, an age when many girls were leaving the family home to join another when they married. An almanack printed in 1796 shows her future husband stationed in Bombay, so he may have still been in India when her portrait miniature was painted. As the miniature of Hannah and her sister Mary were painted at the same time it is possible that they were commissioned by their parents in anticipation of both girls leaving home. Although Hannah married and moved away in 1802 to begin a family of her own, after her failed engagement to Henry Austen Mary did not marry until 1815 and had no children. Wood’s fee book, now in the National Art Library at the Victoria and Albert Museum is a rare and valuable source of information on his patrons, his pricing and techniques.
[1] It would appear that Henry Austen met Mary Pearson when he was stationed at Sheerness and the couple were quickly betrothed. It was around this time that Jane began her novel First Impressions, later to be renamed Pride and Prejudice – in it she notes the attraction of military men to vulnerable young women like Mary Pearson.
[2] Information taken from ed. J. Burke, B. Burke, ‘The Patrician’, Vol. 6, p. 407