Portrait bust of Lady Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart, later Viscountess Bury (1921-2009), at the age of four
Margaret Wrightson (Stockton on Tees 1877 - 1976)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1926
Materials
Carrara marble
Measurements
200 x 108 x 102 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Mount Stewart, County Down
NT 1221036
Summary
Sculpture, bronze; portrait bust of Lady Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart, later Viscountess Bury (1921-2009); Margaret Wrightson (1877-1976); 1926. A marble portrait bust of Lady Mairi Bury depicted at the age of four, the same age at which she was modelled for the Mairi Fountain in the gardens at Mount Stewart. One of a number of sculptures by Margaret Wrightson of members of the Londonderry family at Mount Stewart. This is a small version of the larger marble bust, and there is also a small version in bronze, both at Mount Stewart.
Full description
A portrait bust in marble of Lady Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart, later Viscountess Bury (1921-2009), by Margaret Wrightson. The sitter is depicted looking slightly upwards and to her left. The bust is in herm form, on a tall integral concave tapering socle; the sculpture is signed and dated on the back. This is a small version of the larger marble bust at Mount Stewart (NT 1221050) depicting Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart at the age of four, which was probably commissioned at the same time as the Mairi Fountain (NT 1221060), which also shows the young Mairi at this age. There are three versions of this portrait at Mount Stewart; as well as the present small marble version, the larger one , which is presumably the version exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1926 (no. 1286), and a small bronze cast (NT 1543001). The Vane and Wrightson families were neighbouring landowners in Northumberland from at least the early eighteenth century. In the later nineteenth century the former close relations between the families were renewed, with the marine engineer and politician Sir Thomas Wrightson (1839-1921) developing a close friendship with the 6th Marquess and Marchioness of Londonderry. His daughter Margaret Wrightson, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a professional sculptor, also therefore became a family friend of the Londonderrys. Much of Wrightson's work consisted in portrait commissions, but she also made a number of larger works. Her first commission from the Londonderrys was from the 6th Marchioness, for a fountain for Wynyard Park, whilst she subsequently received several commissions from Edith, 7th Marchioness of Londonderry (for more information on Margaret Wrightson, see the Mairi Fountain, NT 1221060). Jeremy Warren October 2022
Provenance
Commissioned by the sitter’s parents, the 7th Marquess & Marchioness of Londonderry; thence by descent, until given to the National Trust by Lady Mairi Bury (1921-2009), in 1976.
Marks and inscriptions
Front:: MARY Back, near right shoulder:: Margaret Wrightson / 1926
Makers and roles
Margaret Wrightson (Stockton on Tees 1877 - 1976), sculptor