Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')
(1817-1888), Art patron and writer on needlework; first wife of John Hume Cust, Viscount Alford; daughter of 2nd Marquess of NorthamptonSitter in 9 portraits
Daughter of the 2nd Marquess of Northampton, Lady Alford's childhood was spent in Rome, a city she remained attached to and made frequent trips to throughout her life. The influence of Renaissance painting and Victorian romanticism can be seen in her watercolours. In 1851, she became the wealthy aristocratic widow of John Hume Cust, which afforded her the opportunity to become a generous patron of the arts. In 1866 she published Needlework as Art, writing about the history of needlework and raising its profile from craft to a high art form. She also helped to establish the Royal School of Needlework, with its president Princess Helena of Schleswig-Holstein
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