On this day 7 years ago, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of HRH Princess Eugenie of York to Jack Brooksbank. The groom-to-be had popped the question in front of Nicaraguan volcano, and then sealed the deal with a stunning padparadscha sapphire engagement ring. With its centre stone surrounded by a halo of 10 round cut diamonds, the ring is reminiscent of the one worn by her mother, Sarah, Duchess of York.
For the official photos, snapped in Buckingham Palace’s Picture Gallery, Eugenie chose a beautiful floral dress by Erdem, from their pre-fall 2016 collection. The ‘Hetty’ dress, made from crisp silk-organza, was from a collection which the designer said played with ‘the idea of formality and informality’ and was inspired by the portraiture of John Singer Sargent and Lord Snowden.
As an Art History graduate, Eugenie is no doubt familiar with Sargent’s works. He was considered the ‘leading portrait painter’ of his day, and worked with some of the Edwardian Era’s most notable individuals – from Winston Churchill, to Nancy Astor, and the Duchess of Marlborough (Consuelo Vanderbilt).
But some of his sitters would be even more familiar to Eugenie, as in 1923 he worked with the then Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyons – her great grandparents. They sat for Sargent, who referred to Elizabeth as ‘the only completely unselfconscious sitter I have ever had’, shortly before their April 1923 marriage.
In a further sketch of the future Queen Mother, completed at the same time, it’s easy to see the resemblance between her and her great granddaughter.
Sargent also produced this beautiful portrait of Winifred Cavendish-Betinck, Duchess of Portland, in 1902.
Winifred, Duchess of Portland, oil on canvas, John Singer Sargent, 1902
The Duchess was Mistress of the Robes to Queen Alexandra from 1913 – 1925 – I’m currently working on a series about some of the women who held the role that this blog takes it’s name from, including Winifred. I’m particularly keen to explore her extensive collection of jewels, including the stunning Portland Sapphire Tiara, which was sadly auctioned off by Christies back in 2010.
The Portland antique sapphire, diamond, and natural pearl tiara
This year marks the 100th anniversary of Sargent’s death, and to commemorate this, an exhibition of his work has been announced by English Heritage. Entitled ‘Heiress: Sargent’s American Portraits’, it will display works of those who married into British and European aristocracy – the so-called Dollar Princesses. The exhibition opens on 16th May at Kenwood House and sounds well worth the visit. You can find more information here.
Mistress of the Robes 