Edward Clifford, (British, 1844-1907)

Portrait of Constance Gwladys Robinson (née Herbert), Marchioness of Ripon

Portrait of Constance Gwladys Robinson (née Herbert), Marchioness of Ripon
signed and dated 'EDWARD CLIFFORD/1876' (lower right); inscribed 'Lady Gladys[sic] Herbert (on the neckline of her blouse); signed and inscribed 'N02 Lady Gwladys Herbert/E. Clifford/18 Upper Woburn Place/Euston Sq' (on a label attached to the backboard)
watercolour heightened with touches of white
74 x 58cm (29 1/8 x 22 13/16in).

Gwladys Herbert was born in 1859 and married St George Lowther, 4th Earl of Lonsdale; following Lowther's death she married Frederick Robinson, 2nd Marquess of Ripon, known as the Earl de Grey. During her lifetime, Gwladys was an important patron of the arts in Britain and a supporter of talented individuals, particularly Nellie Melba, the Australian opera singer. She was a great lover of ballet, forming friendships with both Nijinsky and Diaghilev; Oscar Wilde was a close acquaintance and dedicated his famous 1893 play A Woman of No Importance to her.

The present lot was painted when the sitter was 17 years old. Gwladys is depicted half length, a hint of a landscape beyond. Edward Clifford painted a number of portraits and was associated with the Aesthetic Movement; influenced by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, he was a part of a group of artists such as Robert Bateman and Walter Crane who exhibited at the Dudley Gallery. Clifford was very religious and an honorary Secretary of the evangelical Church Army.