Hazel Lavery

1 portrait

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Hazel Lavery

by Baron Adolph de Meyer
vintage bromide print, 1910s
6 3/4 in. x 8 3/4 in. (171 mm x 222 mm)
Purchased, 1981
Primary Collection
NPG P164

Sitterback to top

  • Hazel (née Martyn), Lady Lavery (1880-1935), Socialite, actress and painter; former wife of Edward Trudeau, and later wife of Sir John Lavery. Sitter in 10 portraits, Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

Artistback to top

  • Baron Adolph de Meyer (1868-1946), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 18 portraits, Sitter in 2 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Cullen, Fintan, The Irish Face: Redefining the Irish Portrait, 2004, p. 207
  • Rogers, Malcolm, Camera Portraits, 1989 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 October 1989 - 21 January 1990), p. 165 Read entry

    Adolf Meyer-Watson was created a baron by the King of Saxony in 1901 at the request of the King's cousin Edward VII. It was a device to allow him and his beautiful wife Olga, the god-daughter (and possibly an illegitimate child) of Edward, to attend his coronation in Westminster Abbey. The de Meyers were one of the most glamorous couples in a brilliant and chic international society, and the Baron's aesthetic photographs only made him more desirable. At the outbreak of war, however, the couple, who were suspected of being German spies, hastily left England for America. There the Baron, who was admired and encouraged by Steichen and Stieglitz, was employed by Condé Nast as photographer for Vogue and Vanity Fair. He brought to magazine photography not only his social kudos and contacts, but a new sense of style and elegance.

    Hazel Martyn married the successful painter Sir John Lavery as his second wife in 1910, and was one of his favourite models. As her obituarist in The Times noted: 'he drew her as the colleen on the modern Irish bank notes, and her features thus became as familiar as those of any film star'. In reality Lady Lavery was no 'colleen', and her social position, distinguished features and sophistication made her a natural sitter for de Meyer. This photograph dates from after her marriage, and may have been taken either in London or New York. It was purchased from the sale of de Meyer's own collection.

  • Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 367

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1910back to top

Current affairs

George V succeeds Edward VII to the throne.
The Liberals win narrow victories after calling two General Elections following escalating tension between the Liberal administration and the Lords reached crisis point with the Lords' unprecedented rejection of Lloyd George's 1909 budget. The budget included tax reform intended to fund social reform and a rearmament programme, but was seen by the Conservative Lords as an assault on property.

Art and science

The critic and Bloomsbury group member Roger Fry curates a ground-breaking and, at the time, shocking exhibition in London's Grafton Galleries, Manet and the Post-Impressionists. The exhibition introduces the work of contemporary European artists to the London art establishment, including Manet, Cezanne, Gaugin and Van Gogh, and Fry became a champion of modern art, coining the term 'Post-Impressionism'.

International

Japan annexes Korea as a colony, an indication of Japan's ambitious imperialist aims and attempts to control trade and influence in East Asia. Japanese occupation of Korea lasted until 1945, after Japan surrendered to the Allied forces at the end of the Second World War and Korea was divided in two by the United States and the Soviet Union.

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