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Catherine Stephens, Countess of Essex

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- subject matching 'Actresses tour'

Catherine Stephens, Countess of Essex, by John Jackson, circa 1822 -NPG 702 - © National Portrait Gallery, London

© National Portrait Gallery, London

Early Victorian Portraits Catalogue

Catherine Stephens, Countess of Essex

by John Jackson
circa 1822
30 1/4 in. x 25 1/4 in. (768 mm x 641 mm)
NPG 702

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on the cover of the sheet of music: Miss Stephens

This portraitback to top

This portrait may represent Miss Stephens in a particular dramatic or operatic role, but, if so, there is no evidence to suggest what it might be. Jackson painted several theatrical figures including Macready (NPG 1503). Besides the Stodart engraving for the Vernon Gallery, this portrait was also lithographed by W. Sharp, published 1832 (example in British Museum), for the Musical Gem.

Physical descriptionback to top

Fair complexion, dark hazel eyes, black hair. Dressed in a dark crimson costume, with muslin sleeves, and a loose ruff of the same material, and a gold sash. Background colour greenish-grey of various tones.

Provenanceback to top

The artist; Jackson Sale, Christie's, 16 July 1831 (lot 90), bought Noseda; Robert Vernon, bequeathed by him to the National Gallery, 1847; on loan from the National Gallery since 1883; transferred 1957.

Exhibitionsback to top

RA, 1822 (230).

Reproductionsback to top

S. C. Hall, The Vernon Gallery of British Art, III (1854), no.31, under the title of 'The Songstress' (four pages of text), reproduced (engraved by G. Stodart); Art Journal (1899), p 68.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Catherine Capell-Coningsby (née Stephens), Countess of Essex

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