Plaster model for the portrait statuette of Lady Rose Keppel (Lady Rose Lauritzen) in Highland dress
Margaret Wrightson (Stockton on Tees 1877 - 1976)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1954
Materials
Plaster
Measurements
319 x 90 x 108 mm
Place of origin
London
Order this imageCollection
Mount Stewart, County Down
NT 1221039
Summary
Sculpture, plaster; Statuette of Lady Rose Keppel (Lady Rose Lauritzen) in Highland dress; Margaret Wrightson (1877-1976); 1954. The sculptor’s plaster model for a small bronze statuette depicting Lady Rose Keppel (born 1943), younger daughter of Lady Mairi Bury (1921-2009), wearing Highland dress. The completed bronze statuette is also at Mount Stewart (NT 1220134), one of a number of sculptures by Margaret Wrightson of members of the Londonderry family.
Full description
A plaster model for the portrait statuette by Margaret Wrightson, depicting Lady Rose Keppel (Lady Rose Lauritzen, born 1943), the younger daughter of Lady Mairi Bury (1921-2009). Lady Rose is shown standing, looking slightly upwards to her left, her left arm behind her back and holding on to the right arm, the right hand placed against her thigh. She wears a dress, partly pleated, with a small sporran at the front, and a short-sleeved shirt buttoned up to the neck. On an integral rectangular socle, with the artist’s signature. This is the sculptor’s plaster model, which would have been used to make moulds from which bronze versions could be cast. A version of the bronze statuette is also at Mount Stewart (NT 1220134). 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). The sculpture of Lady Rose Keppel was presumably commissioned by her mother, Lady Mairi Bury. Jeremy Warren October 2022
Provenance
Commissioned by Lady Mairi Bury (1921-2009), by whom given to the National Trust, in 1976.
Marks and inscriptions
On base:: Margaret Wrightson
Makers and roles
Margaret Wrightson (Stockton on Tees 1877 - 1976), sculptor