5 OF 13

Wedding breakfast for Mary Whitall Smith and Frank Costelloe at Balliol Hall

5 of 13 portraits of Benjamin Jowett

Identify sitters

by Unknown photographer
bromide copy print, 3 September 1885
6 1/4 in. x 5 in. (158 mm x 126 mm) overall
Given by Barbara Strachey (Hultin, later Halpern), 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG Ax160643

Sittersback to top

Mary Berenson (née Smith) (1864-1945), Art historian; former wife of Frank Costelloe, and later wife of Bernard Berenson; daughter of Robert Pearsall Smith. Sitter associated with 75 portraits. Identify
Benjamin Francis Conn ('Frank') Costelloe (1855-1899), Barrister and political reformer; first husband of Mary Berenson (née Smith). Sitter in 16 portraits. Identify
Benjamin Jowett (1817-1893), Master of Balliol College, Oxford. Sitter in 13 portraits. Identify

Artistback to top

Unknown photographer, Photographer. Artist associated with 6570 portraits.

Placesback to top

Place made: United Kingdom: England, Oxfordshire (Balliol Hall, Balliol College Oxford)

Subjects & Themesback to top

Events of 1885back to top

Current affairs

Redistribution Act; continues Gladstone's extensive package of electoral reform, although his Liberal government is later defeated when the Irish Nationalists, seeking support for Home Rule, side with the Conservatives over a budget measure. The Marquess of Salisbury is invited to form a 'caretaker' government.

Art and science

The Dictionary of National Biography is first published quarterly, under the editorship of Leslie Stephen, and sub-editorship of Sidney Lee. Volume 63 completed the work in 1900. Setting new standards in life writing, the DNB exemplified the form of the brief biography, formalising a style and approach to writing lives, based on Stephen's guiding principles of selection and presentation in 'business-like form'.

International

The death of the famous General Charles Gordon sparks outrage in Britain. Sent to the Sudan to evacuate Egyptian forces from Khartoum, threatened by Sudanese rebels under Muhammad Ahmad al-Mahdi, Khartoum quickly came under siege, and Gordon is killed and beheaded two days before the relief force arrived. The British public proclaimed Gordon a martyr, and attacked government, particularly Gladstone, for not relieving British forces earlier.

Tell us more back to top

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