Elisa Ramsay Stevenson or Mary Lawton by unknown artist, “The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour, Mignard: The Power of Posing” at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery

Mrs Stevenson (1830-1908) was the wife of James Cochran Stevenson, who was MP for South Shields between 1863 and 1895. This portrait is one of a pair originally thought to depict the Stevensons. However, recent research of archive photographs of the couple has cast doubt on this conclusion, and it has been suggested the portraits may instead depict Benjamin Carr Lawton and his wife, Mary.

Benjamin Carr Lawton was awarded the contract to build the Tyne Piers in 1855, although the contracted was terminated in 1862.

The lady’s portrait shows her in a black dress, which may represent a mourning dress, worn by a bereaved woman in the Victorian period, although it could also be a fashionable dress of the time.

Provenance: transferred from South Shields Town Hall, c.1977

Object description
Type: Easel Painting
Location: South Shields Museum, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on panel
Artist: Unknown artist
Date: c.1860–1866

Image Details
Date: 31 August 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 500
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.