Comparing Lady Colins

There’s been a lot of online (and traditional) media coverage of the current day Lady Colin Campbell, also known as Georgie Campbell. Her recently published book, “The Untold Life of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother” has hit the headlines with controversial claims that the Queen Mother was illegitimate and that the Queen was conceived via artificial insemination. The ensuing publicity has increased traffic to my website on the Victorian Lady Colin (1886-1911) as searchers type in the same name only to find out there are two Lady Colins.

The media coverage has reminded me of the comparisons between the two Lady Colins. Both married into the Argyll family after a whirlwind romance, both quickly regretted their marriage, both went through a messy divorce with their respective Lord Colin husbands, and both proceeded to earn a living through writing. The Victorian Lady Colin concentrated on journalism, whilst the modern Lady Colin has focussed on biography and autobiography, but both have written a novel. In addition, those who study etiquette might find it interesting to compare the vast differences in recommended behaviour set out in the 1893 “Etiquette of Good Society” edited by the Victorian Lady, and those in the 1986 book “Lady Colin Campbell’s Guide to Being a Modern Lady.”

Many years ago I had a brief telephone conversation with the current Lady Colin Campbell, who like the subject of my book, continues to use her title after her divorce. She expressed an interest in her forbearer and referred to her as “Gertie.” We have not spoken since, so I cannot claim to talk from personal knowledge, but from what I have read about the two Lady Colins, the main similarity is the strength of character … whatever you think of them as individuals!

New Portrait of Lady Colin Campbell Discovered

I’ve known for some time that Wilhelm Heinrich Funk painted Lady Colin Campbell in 1899. The portrait was exhibited at Thomas McLean's Galleries in January 1900 but until now I had found no trace of it in books, catalogues or art collections. So imagine the excitement when yesterday I found a copy of it in a 1900 journal. Until, that is, I saw the portrait, which I find probably the worse I have seen of her. My own subjective opinion of course, but take a look and see what you think.

It is interesting to note that when the portrait was exhibited in January 1900, Lady Colin was the art critic for The World, with her column “In the Picture Galleries.” She covered the exhibition and although she does not mention her own portrait, she said:

“The great charm in Mr. Funk's portraits is not only the admirable flesh‑painting and fine sense of colour, but that they are pictures as well as likenesses. It would be a pleasure to possess these portraits I have mentioned whether one knew the originals or not, for they are decorative works of art, beautiful in themselves and in their rendering of character.”

Frankly, I disagree!

However, I would still be interested if anyone knows the current location of the painting.

 (c) Anne Jordan 2012

Harmony in White and Ivory

I’ve just received a 1911 print depicting Whistler’s 1886 portrait of Lady Colin Campbell, “Harmony in White and Ivory.” First displayed at the time of her divorce trial, the portrait was unfinished and later disappeared, presumed destroyed by the artist himself.

Was the colour of the dress chosen to signify innocence in the face of her impending trial?

It was certainly timely. The portrait was displayed at the winter exhibition of the Society of British Artists, opening with the private viewing the day after the divorce trial began. The newspapers went wild with suggestions of the co-respondents competing to purchase the portrait of their alleged lover, but it is more likely it was destroyed by Whistler, dissatisfied with the outcome of his work.

Who's the Comte?

I’ve been reading and attempting to transcribe a letter, written by Lady Colin Campbell in 1888 to Le Figaro, in which she’s trying to get work as their London correspondent covering society news.

In the first sentence she mentions Le Comte Leon, who has told her that Le Figaro might be interested in her work, but the surname of Le Comte is unclear.

Can anyone help decipher the writing and reveal the identity of the mysterious Comte?

It appears to be something like "Ininsgach" but that's not right.

Any thoughts?

Trial Verdict

Today in 1886 was the final, 18th day of the divorce trial of Campbell vs Campbell, with the agonising wait until the verdict finally came at 10.15pm. Crowds had gathered outside to hear the verdict and cheered as word spread that both parties had been found innocent of all charges.