Edward Robert Hughes, RWS, 
British 1851-1914- 
A pair of portraits: Elizabeth Webb, holding a...

Edward Robert Hughes, RWS, 
British 1851-1914- 

A pair of portraits: Elizabeth Webb, holding a vase of flowers; and Thomas Webb, holding a black hat; 

each oil on canvas, the first signed and dated 'E.R. HUGHES.1876.' (lower right) and inscribed 'THOMAS.WEBB' (upper left), the second signed 'E.R.HUGHES.' (lower right) and inscribed and dated 'ELIZABETH.WEBB.1876' (upper left), each 61.6 x 51.5 cm., a pair (2). 

Provenance: 
Private Collection, Essex, until circa 1970-3; 
when purchased by the mother of the present owner. 
Anon. sale, Christie's, London, 15 July 2022, lot 95. 

Note: 
Although Hughes is known mostly for his romantic, somewhat fantastical watercolours such as 'Night with her Train of Stars', 1912 (Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, no.1915P100), in his early career he appears to have had a thriving portrait practice. Of his sixteen Royal Academy exhibits, the fourteen between 1879 and 1898 were portraits. The present works, with their intricate detailing, clearly show the influence of Pre-Raphaelite portraiture and the impact of artists such as Frederick Sandys (1829-1904) and William Holman Hunt (1827-1910). Hughes was studio assistant to Hunt from 1899 due to the older artist's deteriorating eyesight. Although little is known about the sitters, Thomas and Elizabeth Webb, Hughes has effectively captured a sense of their personalities. In his portrait of Elizabeth, for example, he has added props of the blue and white vase of flowers and the yellow neckerchief, which allow us an insight into her character.