John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow, GCH, FRS, MP, (1779-1853)

Another version of the 1st Earl Brownlow's portrait, dated 1835 and slightly earlier than the companion version, suggests that Shee produced multiple sittings and versions of this commission — a practice common when the subject was a significant patron or when the original was required for more than one institutional location. The National Trust's Belton House collection holds both versions, preserving the evidence of how portrait commissions were managed and distributed among family members and between different institutional locations. The slight variation in date between the two versions may reflect different stages of the sitting process or the production of a replica shortly after the original was completed.

Minor variations between this and the 1836 version—in pose, finish, or detail—distinguish the two paintings while maintaining the same essential characterization. Shee"s technique is consistent between versions, with the reliable craftsmanship that allowed him to produce near-identical portraits efficiently. The palette and compositional approach remain standard for his aristocratic portrait commissions.