Biog: Mistress of the Robes and Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria; 4th dau of 7th Duke of Marlborough; m (1874) 7th Duke of Roxburghe.

Role: Bess of Hardwicke.¹

Date: 3 July 1897.

Occasion: The Devonshire House Ball, 2 July 1897.

Location: Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London, W

.Descr: FL standing.

Costume: "...Elizabethan costume of black velvet gown with white satin front embroidered with pearls pointed bodice, jewelled girdle, and lace ruff, the big satin sleeves were inserted with white satin squares, edged with pearls, and the black velvet cap and tulle veil were bordered with the same." (The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p 7g).

Costume Supplier: Mrs. Mason, 4 New Burlington Street, London, W.

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop with 'baronial fireplace'; studio Persian rug.

Photographer: The firm of J. Lafayette, 179 New Bond Street, London, W.

Evidence of photographer at work: Right edge of backdrop to the right of the plate

.No of poses: 1 [but see also negs nos 1481-10 & 1481-11, from resit dated 22 July 1897].

Copyright: V&A Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References: Biog: Burke's Peerage; Who's Who; The Times, 21 June 1923, p 8f

Role: (Bess of Hardwicke) The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10b; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p e; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 76; The Gentlewoman, 10 July 1897, p 48c; Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 168, (National Portrait Gallery Archives); (Queen Elizabeth) The Irish Times, 3 July 1897, p 8d; The Daily Chronicle, 3 July 1897, p 8a; (Elizabethan Lady) Truth, 8 July 1897, p 107b.

Occasion: Sophia Murphy, The Duchess of Devonshire's Ball, London, 1984.

Costume: The Daily News, 3 July 1897, p 5g; The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10b; The Irish Times, 3 July 1897, p 8d; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p 7g; The Standard, 3 July 1897, p 4b; The Lady, 3 July 1897, p 46a; The Court Circular, 10 July 1897, p 624b; The Court Journal, 10 July 1897, p 1247c; The Gentlewoman, 10 July 1897, p 56b; Lady's Pictorial, 10 July 1897, p 42 (line drawing) & p 70; Madame, 8 July 1897, p 69a; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 76 (and line drawing).

Costume Supplier: The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 74.

Photography: The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 9f; Black & White, 10 July 1897, p 38b

.Reproduced: (Version from resit) Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 168, (National Portrait Gallery Archives).

¹ Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury, née Hardwicke (1518-1607/8); daughter of John Hardwicke of Hardwicke, co. Derby; m. 1stly (c. 1532) Robert Barley of Barley; m. 2ndly (1549) Sir William Cavendish [by whom she was the ancestress of the Dukes of Devonshire]; m. 3rdly ( ) Sir William St. Loe; m. 4thly (1568) George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, (Burke's Peerage and Dictionary of National Biography.)