This picture was painted for the sitter’s daughter, Marguerite, who had married Albert, 21st Lord Hastings in 1907. It seems that the artist intended the picture to look unfinished. The sitter was the second son of William Nevill, 1st Marquess, by Caroline Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, daughter of Sir John Vanden-Bempde-Johnstone, 2nd Bt. He was Lt. Col. in the Territorial Army reserves, a Major in the Sussex Imperial Yeomanry, and Deputy Lieutenant of Sussex. He succeeded to the marquessate in October 1927, aged 73, on the death of his brother, who died without children. His first wife, Violet Streatfield, daughter of Lt. Col. Henry Dorrien Streatfield, bore him three children. His second wife, Maud Augusta Beckett-Denison, bore him Marguerite. He had no children with his third wife, his first cousin, Mary Frances Nevill. He died falling from his horse whilst out hunting. He had no male heir and the title passed to his nephew, Major Guy Larnach-Nevill.

Provenance: accepted in lieu of tax by H.M.Treasury and transferred to the National Trust in 2009

Marks & inscriptions: Bottom left: To Lady Hastings / from Oswald Birley 1930

Text from National Trust website

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Sir Oswald Hornby Joseph Birley (1880 – 1952)
Date: 1930

Image Details
Date: 29 September 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/30s
ISO: 800
Licensing: Image of a National Trust asset. This image cannot be licensed.