Latest News about the Rice Portrait of Jane Austen

November 2020

Jane Austen’s close relationship with her brother Edward Austen’s children was once again demonstrated in a letter written by Jane Austen to her sister, Cassandra, which recently sold for over £150,000 at auction at Bonham’s, New York. The letter was written from Austen’s brother’s house in London in September 1813.

In the letter Jane writes about a recent traumatic trip to the dentist with three of Edward’s children - her nieces Lizzie, Marianne and Fanny. Jane writes:

"The poor Girls & their Teeth! ... we were a whole hour at Spence's, & Lizzy's were filed & lamented over again & poor Marianne had two taken out after all ... we heard each of the two sharp hasty screams,—Fanny's teeth were cleaned too—& pretty as they are, Spence found something to do to them, putting in gold & talking gravely ... but I think he must be a Lover of Teeth & Money & Mischief to parade about Fannys. I would not have had him look at mine for a shilling a tooth & double it."

All three of Edward’s daughters were still alive when the Rice Portrait was returned to Lizzy’s son, John Morland Rice and was copied by Lizzy’s daughter Fanny, Countess of Winchelsea. Are we seriously suggesting that none of these ladies would have mentioned to John and Fanny that the portrait was not Jane if indeed it was not? To suggest anything other than the portrait is correct would seem now to be absurd. This letter is yet more evidence that the Rice Portrait is of Jane Austen.

JUNE 2019

A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN WATERCOLOUR OF THE RICE PORTRAIT

Startling new evidence has recently emerged in favour of the Rice Portrait of Jane Austen, in the form of a previously unknown Victorian watercolour. The watercolour was purchased at a second-hand shop in London by a member of the public who, realising that it was a copy of the Rice Portrait, contacted the owners. The painting is particularly interesting in that it shows the Rice Portrait as it was before it was cut down one side.

Read more about this stunning new picture HERE or click on the image (right).

FebruARY 2019

ENVELOPE AND NOTE WRITTEN BY FANNY CAROLINE LEFROY

It is rare for new evidence to be uncovered relating to Jane Austen. It is rarer still for a document to come to light from someone who was close to Jane’s immediate family. So, the appearance of a previously unknown note, written by Jane Austen’s great-niece Fanny Caroline Lefroy (1820-1885), is a significant discovery.

You can read more about the previously unknown note written by Jane Austen’s great-niece Fanny Caroline Lefroy HERE.