Helen Faucit (Helena (née Faucit Saville), Lady Martin) as Pauline in Lytton's 'Lady of Lyons'

1 portrait by Welch & Gwynne

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Helen Faucit (Helena (née Faucit Saville), Lady Martin) as Pauline in Lytton's 'Lady of Lyons'

by Julian Drummond, published by Welch & Gwynne, after Rose Myra Drummond
mezzotint, published 17 April 1843
21 in. x 15 1/8 in. (533 mm x 385 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1959
Reference Collection
NPG D38292

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Julian Drummond (active 1843), Painter and engraver. Artist or producer associated with 3 portraits.
  • Rose Myra Drummond (active 1832-1849), Artist. Artist or producer associated with 3 portraits.
  • Welch & Gwynne (active 1837-1843), Printsellers and publishers. Artist or producer associated with 18 portraits.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D38293: Helen Faucit (Helena (née Faucit Saville), Lady Martin) as Pauline in Lytton's 'Lady of Lyons' (from same plate)

Placesback to top

Events of 1843back to top

Current affairs

Sir Henry Cole commissions 1,000 copies of the first Christmas card, designed by John Callcott Horsley. Cole would later be instrumental in staging the Great Exhibition, and in developing science and art education in Britain.
Nelson's statue, by E.H. Bailey, is placed on top of its column in Trafalgar Square.

Art and science

The Theatre Regulations Act is passed, abolishing the privileged position of the 'major' theatres which held letters patent from the crown, allowing all theatres to perform 'legitimate' theatre.
First volume of Ruskin's Modern Painters published, praising Turner and demanding that artists should demonstrate 'truth to nature' in their work. Ruskin is a great inspiration to the Pre-Raphaelites.

International

The first experimental telegraph wire is constructed between Baltimore and Washington, using Morse code to send a message. The code, in which pulses of current deflect an electromagnet, moving a marker and producing written codes on a strip of paper, had been invented by Samuel Morse in 1838. The line officially opens in 1844.

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Chris Goddard

26 November 2016, 14:50

This is an engraving of the portrait of the famous English actress Helena Saville Faucit (1817-1898) from a painting by Miss (Rosa) Myra Drummond. Helena Faucit posed for this full-length portrait in January 1839. The actress is shown in the theatrical role of 'Pauline Deschappelles' in The Lady of Lyons, a romantic drama by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. The above illustration is taken from is a photogravure of (Rosa) Myra Drummond's original painting. The original portrait is now in the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum.

Chris Goddard

26 November 2016, 14:41

This cannot be Lady Martin-Harvey as she wasn't alive in 1843. I have explained in my other comment why there could be a connection to the Drummond family.