23 OF 32

Ralph Partridge; James Beaumont Strachey; Saxon Arnold Sydney-Turner; Alix Strachey

23 of 32 portraits of Alix Strachey

Identify sitters

probably by Frances Partridge
velox snapshot print, mid 1930s
5 3/8 in. x 3 1/8 in. (136 mm x 79 mm) image size
Purchased, 1979
Photographs Collection
NPG x24025

Sittersback to top

Reginald Sherring ('Ralph') Partridge (1894-1960), Soldier in World War I and writer; former husband of Dora Carrington, and later husband of Frances Marshall. Sitter in 13 portraits, Artist associated with 2 portraits. Identify
Alix Strachey (née Sargant-Florence) (1892-1973), Psychologist and translator; wife of James Strachey. Sitter in 32 portraits, Artist associated with 10 portraits. Identify
James Beaumont Strachey (1887-1967), Psychoanalyst and translator. Sitter in 44 portraits, Artist associated with 5 portraits. Identify
Saxon Arnold Sydney-Turner (1880-1962), Civil servant. Sitter associated with 6 portraits. Identify

Artistback to top

Frances Catherine Partridge (née Marshall) (1900-2004), Author and literary journalist. Artist associated with 2 portraits, Sitter in 9 portraits.

Placesback to top

Place made and portrayed: United Kingdom: England, Wiltshire (Ham Spray House, Wiltshire)

Portrait setback to top

Photographs from the Strachey Trust Collection, 1850s-1930s

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1933back to top

Current affairs

Sir Norman Angell is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Angell was recognised for his book, Europe's Optical Illusion (or The Great Illusion) first published in 1910 and updated in 1933, which argued that war between modern powers was futile as neither the looser or victor would gain economically from it.

Art and science

British Art embraces abstraction with the establishment of 'Unit 1', the first group of British Artists dedicated to producing abstract art. The critic Herbert Read formed the group by bringing together the artists Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and the architect, Wells Coates.
The Duveen Wing extension at the National Portrait Gallery is opened by King George V.

International

The Nazi party comes to power in Germany as part of a coalition government with Hitler as Chancellor. Over the next year, the party consolidated its position through the Enabling Act (allowing them to pass legislation without the support of the coalition), by banning and purging opposition, and by making Hitler Führer in 1934: granting him the combined powers of Chancellor and President.

Tell us more back to top

Can you tell us more about this portrait? Spotted an error, information that is missing (a sitter’s life dates, occupation or family relationships, or a date of portrait for example) or do you know anything that we don't know? If you have information to share please complete the form below.

If you require information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service. You can buy a print of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at £6 for unframed prints, £25 for framed prints. If you wish to license this image, please use our Rights and Images service.

Please note that we cannot provide valuations.

We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.

Robert B. Todd

28 April 2020, 14:46

This was almost certainly taken by Frances Partridge, Ralph's wife, at Ham Spray, Wilts. (where she took countless other snaps). They took the place over after Lytton Strachey's death and Carrington's suicide in 1932. In 1918 Saxon and Alix had briefly shared a house in Hampstead before her marriage to James Strachey, and Virginia Woolf even thought that they might make a couple; see her letters, vol. 2, pp, 210 and 223.

* What can you tell us? (Help)

There are occasions when we are unsure of the identity of a sitter or artist, their life dates, occupation or have not recorded their family relationships. Sometimes we have not recorded the date of a portrait. Do you have specialist knowledge or a particular interest about any aspect of the portrait or sitter or artist that you can share with us? We would welcome any information that adds to and enhances our information and understanding about a particular portrait, sitter or artist.

Citation (Help)

How do you know this? Please could you let us know your source of information.

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)

The National Portrait Gallery will NOT use your information to contact you or store for any other purpose than to investigate or display your contribution. By ticking permission to publish you are indicating your agreement for your contribution to be shown on this collection item page. Please note your email address will not be displayed on the page nor will it be used for any marketing material or promotion of any kind.

Please ensure your comments are relevant and appropriate. Your contributions must be polite and with no intention of causing trouble. All contributions are moderated.

Denied Granted

* Your name (Why?)

* Email (Why?)

Contributions are moderated. We'll need your email address so that we can follow up on the information provided and contact you to let you know when your contribution has been published.