WOLVERTON, BARONESS
Neg. No: (GP) (L) 1588a
Neg. Size: 15"x12"
Neg. Date: 26-11-1897

Biog: C.B.E. cr. 1918; eldest daughter of 1st Earl of Dudley; m. (1895) 4th Baron Wolverton.

Role: Britannia.

Date: 26 November 1897.

Occasion: The Devonshire House Ball, 2 July 1897.

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

Descr: FL seated.

Costume: Trident; plumed helmet with raised laurel wreath design; necklet with Royal Coat of Arms centre; cuirass of silver disks; sash with Garter motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense"; cloak and shield displaying the Union Jack; sandals.

Costume Supplier: -

Furniture & Props: Painted sea-scape backdrop.

Evidence of photographer at work: -

No of poses: 5 [This negative marked resit].

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Biog: Burke's Peerage; The Times, 7 June 1956, p 15g [get].

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

Costume & Role: (Role only) The Daily Graphic, 3 July 1897, p 12c; The Morning Post, 3 July 1897, p 7d; (Costume) The Queen, 10 July 1897, p 138c.

Costume Supplier: -

Reproduced: The Lady's Field, 21 May 1898, p 445; Devonshire House Fancy Dress Ball, July 2 1897: A Collection of Portraits in Costume of Some of the Guests, privately printed, 1899, p 44, (National Portrait Gallery Archives).

The use of the symbol of Britannia has its origin in the Roman goddess Minerva. She came to symbolise security as well as dominion over the sea. A popular image on coinage, until recently she had appeared with the lighthouse and three-masted ship - emanations of her two characteristics. When these were removed from the coin in 1895, people commented that it presaged the demise of the navy. The Candid Friend, 25 May 1901