A reproduction of a painting of brothers Jacob Howell Pattisson (left) and William Henry Pattisson (right), of Witham, with a donkey, by Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830). The painting, carried out in 1811-17, was entitled ‘Rural Amusements’ and was very popular. When sold at Christie’s in 1860 it made 200 guineas (about £10,000 today). It now belongs to the National Trust and is at Polesden Lacey, Surrey. It was not until the spring of 1817 that it was finished to the artist’s satisfaction and sent for exhibition. William Henry Pattisson was drowned with his wife on his honeymoon in 1832 and Jacob Howell Pattisson left Witham after financial disaster in 1859.

In 2003 I bought a biscuit tin with a reproduction of the painting on the lid; it came from an online shop in Iowa. I gave it to the Braintree District Museum in 2005.

Ref	M329
Photographer	Sir Thomas Lawrence (painter)
Date taken	1811 to 1817
Source	National Trust, Southern Region. Image reference 611351.
Restrictions	Copyright National Trust / Andrew Fetherston