Augusta Mary Elizabeth (née Browne), 1st Baroness Bolsover; Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck
- Artist: Unknown photographer
- Date: 1874
- Medium: albumen print on hand decorated card with gouache and ink
- Dimensions: 14 3/4 in. x 12 5/8 in. (375 mm x 321 mm) overall
- Portrays: Augusta Mary Elizabeth (née Browne), 1st Baroness Bolsover, Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
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About this artwork
In this albumen print the card is hand‑decorated in gouache and ink, giving it a subtle painterly touch. The photograph was taken in 1874, a time when albumen prints were prized for their fine detail and crisp tonal range. Notice how the light falls across Augusta Mary Elizabeth’s face, creating gentle shadows that hint at her soft expression. Her eyes are framed by delicately painted lashes, a detail only possible with the added gouache.
On the right side you’ll see Lord Henry Cavendish‑Bentinck, his profile slightly turned toward the viewer. He wears a simple collar and holds his hand in front of him, a pose common for male portraiture in that era.
Augusta was born in 1834, married into the Cavendish‑Bentinck family and became the first Baroness Bolsover. Her husband’s son would later serve as MP for Norfolk. The photograph captures both figures together, illustrating their familial bond in a single card.
See it in person
Augusta Mary Elizabeth (née Browne), 1st Baroness Bolsover; Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
