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TWEEDMOUTH, LORD & LADY
Neg. No: GP (L) 1395
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 03-07-1897

copyright V&A

Sitters:

Edward Marjoribanks, 2nd Baron Tweedmouth (1849-1909); Barrister, Liberal Chief Whip 1892-1894 and First Lord of the Admiralty 1905-1908.

Fanny (Octavia Louisa), Lady Tweedmouth, née Spencer-Churchill (1853-1904); Political hostess; 3rd daughter of 7th Duke of Marlborough; m. (1873) 2nd Baron Tweedmouth.

Role: (Baron Tweedmouth) Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester,1 Court of Queen Elizabeth.
(Lady Tweedmouth) Queen Elizabeth.

Date: 3 July 1897.

Occasion: The Devonshire House Ball, 2 July 1897.

Location: Devonshire House, Piccadilly, London, W.

Descr: FL.

Costume: (Baron Tweedmouth) "...ruby velvet and gold embroidery, slashed with satin." (The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10b); (Lady Tweedmouth) "Gown of old brocaded white and gold, the skirt in the shape of large hoop; front of skirt with very fine old gold tissue with creves satin certis fine pearls. Bodice of brocade pointed with large sleeves and stomacher of old gold tissue with creves of white satin certis pearls. Vertugadia of brocade. Cherusque and cuffs of old lace and gold. Coiffure all in pearls. Front of bodice ornamented woth rows of pearls. Pearl necklace." (description supplied by Alias, The Echo, 3 July 1897, p 2g)

Costume Supplier: (Lady Tweedmouth) A reproduction of the picture of Queen Elizabeth in the NPG (cat. no. 542) executed by Alias, 36 Soho Square, London W.

Orders, Decorations & Medals: (Baron Tweedmouth) Collar of the Order of the Garter; unidentified neck badge.

Jewellery: (Baron Tweedmouth) Miniature portrait of a lady, suspended from left shoulder.

Furniture & Props: Painted backdrop; Jacobean-style photographer's chair with detachable crest-rail; studio Persian rug.

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

Evidence of photographer at work: Second backdrop behind main backdrop, visible to right of plate.

No of poses: 1 [See also neg. nos. 1444 & 1445 (the latter marked as reject), taken at second sitting]

Copyright: V&A

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Provenance: Pinewood Studios; acquired 1989.

References:

Biog: (Baron Tweedmouth) Dictionary of National Biography; Burke's Peerage; The Complete Peerage; Who's Who; The Times, 16 September 1909 p 13c; (Lady Tweedmouth) Burke's Peerage; The Times, 6 August 1904, p 10 c.

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

Role & Costume: (Baron Tweedmouth) (Role only) St. James's Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 9b; The Sketch, 14 July 1897, p 484b; (Costume) The Daily News, 3 July 1897, p 5g; The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10b; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p 7f & 8a The Gentlewoman, 10 July 1897, p 52c; Lady's Pictorial, 10 July 1897, p 53c; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 76b. (Lady Tweemouth) (Role only) The Court Journal, 10 July 1897, p 1247b; The Daily News, 3 July 1897, p 5g; The Times, 3 July 1897, p 12a; The Westminster Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 5b; The Sketch, 14 July 1897, p 484b; Truth, 8 July 1897, p 107b; (Costume) The Daily Graphic, 3 July 1897, p 13a & p 10 (line drawing); The Daily Telegraph, 3 July 1897, p 10b; The Echo, 3 July 1897, p 2g; The Irish Times, 3 July 1897, p 8d; The Lady, 3 July 1897, p 46a; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, pp 7f & 8a; Pall Mall Gazette, 3 July 1897, p 7c; St. James's Gazette, 3 July 1897, pp 8b & 9b; The Standard, 3 July 1897, p 4b; The Observer, 4 July 1897, p 4e; Black and White, 10 July 1897, p 56b & p 54 (line drawing); The Gentlewoman, 10 July 1897, p 48c & p 55 (line drawing); The Lady's Pictorial , 10 July 1897, p 49 (line drawing) & p 53c; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 71 (line drawing) & p 76b.

Costume Supplier: (Lady Tweedmouth) The Daily Graphic, 3 July 1897, p 13a; The Echo, 3 July 1897, p 2g; The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 71. 

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

Reproduced: Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 257, (National Portrait Gallery Archives).

Additional Information: For illustration of 'Lady Tweedmouth's Costume Dinner Party at Brook House' before the Ball see The Illustrated London News, 10 July 1897, p 47.

1 Robert Dudley (1532?-1589); Favourite of Queen Elizabeth I; cr. K.G. 23 April 1559 (Dictionary of National Biography).