Brown and grey wash, 36.8cm by 50.8cm.
Henry Cecil was the nephew and heir of Brownlow, 9th Earl of Exeter (1725-1793).
After parting from his first wife, Emma Vernon, Henry moved to Great Bolas in Shropshire, where he lived incognito and worked as a landscape painter.
He lodged with a family called Hoggins and fell in love with Sarah, the Hoggins’ daughter, who was to become his second wife.
Henry inherited his uncle’s title in 1793, becoming the 10th Earl of Exeter.
In 1801 he became 1st Marquess of Exeter when the title was raised to a marquessate.
This is said to be an example of his work.
