Sitter: Baroness Christine (Marie Ludmilla) von Linden (1879-1969); only daughter of Baron Adhémar Rudolph Caesar Conradin von Linden (1845-1918) and Helene Euphrosyne Cassavetti (1851-1921). m (1921) Mr Cecil Gosling (1870-1943).

Summoned to the Drawing Room on 13 May to be presented in the Diplomatic Circle by Madame de Bille, wife of the Danish ambassador, Baroness Christine von Linden (1879-1969) was described in the press as “a brunette, of medium height and pretty, and owes much to a fine pair of dark-blue eyes capable of sentiment, determination, or eloquence”.

She was the only child of Baron Adhémar von Linden and Helene Euphrosyne Casavetti, daughter of a wealthy Greek merchant trading in England and Egypt. Although born in Germany and later an Austrian subject, her father was a member of one of the oldest families of the Dutch nobility.

The 19-year old Baroness is seen here in an undergown of white chiffon over white satin, with lace insertions and frills of chiffon, edged bébé satin ribbons, and long sash ends of chiffon. Her train is of white satin duchesse with white chiffon and lilies of the valley.

23 years after this image, Baroness von Linden married, in an Orthodox ceremony at the Russian Embassy chapel in London, Mr Cecil Gosling, a diplomat and adventurer, who in 1919, while working as the British Chargé d’Affaires on a special mission to Czechoslovakia, helped Princess Daisy of Pless to obtain permission to return to England after World War One.

Biog:

Only daughter of Baron Adhémar Rudolph Caesar Conradin von Linden [(* Bühl, Germany 1/2/1845, died in London 1/5/1918) and Helene Euphrosyne Casavetti (*London 7/4/1851, died London 11/15/1921). They married in London 11/9/1875]; Chamberlain to the Emperor of Austria,

m 25 November 1921 Cecil Gosling, diplomat and adventurer (born Stockholm 1870, died Tangier 1943)

"The marriage between Mr Cecil Gosling, his Majesty's Consul-General in Frankfort-on-Main, and Baroness Christine de Linden, was solemnized yesterday afternoon at the Russian Embassy Chapel, 32 Welbeck-street.

The Rev. Father Eugène Smirnoff officiated.Before the ceremony the civil marriage took place before the Registrar of the Chelsea District.

Owing to the very recent death of the bride's mother, only the relatives and a few intimate friends were present."

The Times, 26 November 1921

Date: 13 May 1898.

Occasion: The Drawing Room, 13 May 1898: presented in the Diplomatic Circle by Mme. de Bille, wife of the Danish Minister.

Location: The Lafayette Studio, 179 New Bond Street, London, W.

Descr: FL standing.

Costume: Court dress: "...an undergown of white chiffon over white satin, with lace insertions and frills of chiffon, edged bébé satin ribbons, and long sash ends of chiffon; train of white satin duchesse with white chiffon and lilies of the valley." (see: The Gentlewoman, 21 May 1898, p 722b).

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: -

Jewellery: -

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; studio Jacobean-revival mock staircase.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 2 (see also neg no 1722).

Copyright: V&A

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Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

Biog: The Marquis of Ruvigny, The Titled Nobility of Europe, London, 1914, p 722b; The Sketch, 18 March 1903, p 323; Madame, 28 March 1903, p 655, Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, [place, date]

Occasion: The Times, 14 May 1898, p 9c.

Costume: The Gentlewoman, 21 May 1898, p 722b.

Costume Designer: -

Costume Supplier: -

Jewellery: -

Reproduced: (versions) Lady's Pictorial, 21 May 1898, p 744; The Ladies' Field, 28 May 1898, p 495.

Acknowledgement: Baroness Cordula v. Linden