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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 Northampton

Sitter 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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Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford'), by Camille Silvy - NPG Ax50298

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 1860
NPG Ax50298

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford'), by Camille Silvy - NPG Ax61468

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 24 September 1862
NPG Ax61468

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford'), by Camille Silvy - NPG Ax61469

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 24 September 1862
NPG Ax61469

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford'), by Louisa Anne Beresford - NPG D23146(10)

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Louisa Anne Beresford
watercolour and pencil, 30 August 1887
NPG D23146(10)

Web image not currently available

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen carte-de-visite, 1860
NPG Ax9536

Web image not currently available

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 1860
NPG Ax128921

Web image not currently available

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by Camille Silvy
albumen print, 1860
NPG Ax129029

Web image not currently available

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by George Zobel, after Thomas Brooker
mezzotint, 1863
NPG D49387

Image currently unavailable owing to copyright restrictions

Marianne Margaret Egerton (née Compton), Viscountess Alford ('Lady Marian Alford')

by George Zobel, printed by Thomas Brooker, published by Paul and Dominic Colnaghi, Scott & Co, after Paul and Dominic Colnaghi, Scott & Co
mezzotint, published 7 July 1863
NPG D49388

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