Original watercolour of Mrs. Susan Hodson's (widow of Major W.S.R. Hodson) Drawing Room at Hampton Court Palace, London, 1884.
London: 1884. Watercolor. 30 x 50cm. Signed and dated.
Provenance: Christie's. Lot 24/2. Sale 7261 of 27-9-2006....
Ref: "Grace & Favour
A handbook of who lived where in Hampton Court Palace 1750 to 1950," by Sarah E Parker....
MRS SUSAN HODSON: 9 January 1860
Susan (d 1884), daughter of Capt C Henry, RN. She married first, John Mitford, of Exbury, Hampshire, and, second, Major William Stephen Raikes Hodson (1821–58), of ‘Hodson’s Horse’. He was so called for his supreme exploits on horseback, including his ride from Mainpuri to the camp of the C-in-C at Miran-ki-sarai to open communications between the two forces: he rode 94 miles on one horse in a day, through a country swarming with enemies. He was killed at Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny in March 1858. The DNB described Hodson as ‘brave, hard, reckless, impatient, and impulsive, and he enjoyed battle. He despised most other officers, including many of his seniors. He was also ruthless, and may have been unscrupulous and dishonest’, although Lord Roberts (see Apt 14) was known to have described him as ‘a brilliant soldier’. Their daughter, Olivia, was born in 1853 but died in infancy...
Mrs Hodson quickly accepted the offer of a warrant but throughout most of her 24 years in residence she complained and requested
additional or alternative accommodation. On census night in 1871, her household consisted of two female servants and a visitor who was staying in the apartment. In 1881 she was living there with three servants. She died in the apartment from complications due to a broken thigh. Item #16-4742
Price: $750.00