The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. Search over 215,000 works, 150,000 of which are illustrated from the 16th Century to the present day.

Advanced Collection search

Edith Ellaline Brougham (née Teichman), Lady Brougham and Vaux ('Mrs Richard Hart-Davis as Andromeda')

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Make a donation
  • Buy a print
  • Use this image
  • ShareShare this

Edith Ellaline Brougham (née Teichman), Lady Brougham and Vaux ('Mrs Richard Hart-Davis as Andromeda')

by Madame Yevonde
Vivex colour print, March 1935
14 3/4 in. x 10 5/8 in. (375 mm x 271 mm)
Given by Madame Yevonde, 1971
Photographs Collection
NPG x32989

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Madame Yevonde (1893-1975), Photographer. Artist associated with 326 portraits, Sitter in 8 portraits.

This portraitback to top

In Greek mythology Andromeda was the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia. Her mother's boasting of her beauty angered Poseidon, God of the Sea who sent a monster to prey upon their country. The monster could only be appeased by the sacrifice of the king's daughter. Yevonde represents Andromeda chained at her wrists to a rock awaiting her fate. However Perseus, the son of Zeus and Danae, equipped with magic sandals in his mission to sever the gorgon, Medusa's head, happened to fly by and intervened by killing the attacking sea monster. His reward was to marry Andromeda.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • 100 Fashion Icons, p. 127 Read entry

    This photograph is part of Madame Yevonde's (1893–1975) much-celebrated Goddesses and others series, which was exhibited in July 1935 to launch her new studio in Berkeley Square, London. The society lady Mrs Richard Hart-Davis plays the role of Andromeda, who, in Greek mythology, is rescued from the sea monster by Perseus. Hart-Davis is dressed in a cascading Marià Fortuny (1871–1949) dress with pearlescent ripples evocative of the sea, and an intricate shawl made to resemble seaweed, embellished with shells handmade by Yevonde and her assistants. Contrary to many art historical depictions of the goddess as a helpless maiden, Yevonde's Andromeda appears defiant, wearing a bold red lip and soft finger-wave hairstyle popular among modern women of the 1930s.

  • Gibson, Robert; Roberts, Pam, Madame Yevonde: Colour, Fantasy & Myth, 1990 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 20 July - 1 October 1990), p. 74

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1935back to top

Current affairs

Stanley Baldwin starts his third term as Prime Minister after Ramsay Macdonald resigns due to ill health. Coincidentally, Baldwin's first term in office also came about when the Prime Minister of the time, Bonar Law, stepped down due to illness in 1923.

Art and science

Robert Watson-Watt demonstrates Radar, showing how an aircraft can be tracked by detecting radio waves reflected off it. During the war, Watson-Watt established a network of machines and operators that helped detect the approach of enemy aircraft in the Battle of Britain.
Penguin publishes its first paperback books, making reading more portable and affordable to a wider audience.

International

Italy invades Abyssinia. The invasion of the country now known as Ethiopia was part of Mussolini's plan to create an Italian Empire. It was also an attempt to avenge Abyssinia's victory over the Italian army at Adowa in 1896.
Germany introduces conscription, breaking the disarmament clause of the Treaty of Versailles.

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.

What can you tell us?close

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.

Citationclose

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

* Permission to publish (Privacy information)
Privacy Informationclose

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.

Your Emailclose

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.