Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland
Encyclopedia
Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland (née St.Clair-Erskine, born 20 August 1871, died 21 July 1910) was a socialite and member of the British
aristocracy
.
and Blanche Adeliza Fitzroy.
She was born at 40 Upper Brook Street, in Mayfair
, London on 20 August 1871.
She died at 58 Queen Anne’s Street, in Marylebone
, London on 21 July 1910, aged 39, and was buried in the Rosslyn Chapel
.
She was renowned for her beauty, and had no qualms about enhancing it by the use of cosmetics, which was considered daring at the time. She was connected with the group known as The Souls
, having been introduced by George Curzon
. Her sisters were Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Angela Forbes; and Daisy, Countess of Warwick
was a half-sister, from their mother’s previous marriage to Hon. Charles Henry Maynard.
In July 1897 Sybil attended the Duchess of Devonshire’s
grand ball, at Devonshire House
in Piccadilly, London. The ball was held in celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, and was one of the most extravagant aristocratic parties ever. Guests were asked to attend dressed as allegorical or historical figures from before 1815. Sybil dressed as Hebe
, goddess of youth, carrying a gold cup in her hand, with an enormous stuffed eagle strapped to her shoulders, in imitation of a painting by Joshua Reynolds
. The society photographers, Lafayette Studios of Bond Street
London, erected a tent in the garden, and the printed photographs of the guests still exist in the Devonshire archives at Chatsworth
. Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough
remembers Sybil as the outstanding beauty of the Devonshire House Ball:
. The wedding took place at St. Michael’s in Chester Square
, Belgravia
, London. Upon her marriage, Sybil took the title Countess of Westmorland.
The couple had the following children:
]
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
aristocracy
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
.
Background
Born Lady Sybil Mary St.Clair-Erskine, she was the daughter of Robert Francis St.Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of RosslynRobert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn
Robert Francis St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn , styled Lord Loughborough until 1866, was a Scottish Conservative politician...
and Blanche Adeliza Fitzroy.
She was born at 40 Upper Brook Street, in Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, London on 20 August 1871.
She died at 58 Queen Anne’s Street, in Marylebone
Marylebone
Marylebone is an affluent inner-city area of central London, located within the City of Westminster. It is sometimes written as St. Marylebone or Mary-le-bone....
, London on 21 July 1910, aged 39, and was buried in the Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel, properly named the Collegiate Chapel of St Matthew, was founded on a small hill above Roslin Glen as a Roman Catholic collegiate church in the mid-15th century...
.
She was renowned for her beauty, and had no qualms about enhancing it by the use of cosmetics, which was considered daring at the time. She was connected with the group known as The Souls
The Souls
The Souls were a small, loosely-knit but distinctive social group in England, from 1885 to about 1920. Their members included many of the most distinguished English politicians and intellectuals....
, having been introduced by George Curzon
George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston, KG, GCSI, GCIE, PC , known as The Lord Curzon of Kedleston between 1898 and 1911 and as The Earl Curzon of Kedleston between 1911 and 1921, was a British Conservative statesman who was Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary...
. Her sisters were Millicent, Duchess of Sutherland and Lady Angela Forbes; and Daisy, Countess of Warwick
Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick
Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Greville, Countess of Warwick was a society beauty, and mistress to King Edward VII.-Family:...
was a half-sister, from their mother’s previous marriage to Hon. Charles Henry Maynard.
In July 1897 Sybil attended the Duchess of Devonshire’s
Louisa Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire
Louisa Frederica Augusta Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, formerly Louisa Montagu, Duchess of Manchester, née Luise Fredericke Auguste Gräfin von Alten , daughter of Karl Franz Viktor, Graf von Alten and his wife, Hermine de Schminke .On 22 July 1852 she was married at Hannover to...
grand ball, at Devonshire House
Devonshire House
Devonshire House in Piccadilly was the London residence of the Dukes of Devonshire in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was built for William Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Devonshire in the Palladian style, to designs by William Kent...
in Piccadilly, London. The ball was held in celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee, and was one of the most extravagant aristocratic parties ever. Guests were asked to attend dressed as allegorical or historical figures from before 1815. Sybil dressed as Hebe
Hebe (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Hēbē is the goddess of youth . She is the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe was the cupbearer for the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus, serving their nectar and ambrosia, until she was married to Heracles ; her successor was the young Trojan prince Ganymede...
, goddess of youth, carrying a gold cup in her hand, with an enormous stuffed eagle strapped to her shoulders, in imitation of a painting by Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds
Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential 18th-century English painter, specialising in portraits and promoting the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was one of the founders and first President of the Royal Academy...
. The society photographers, Lafayette Studios of Bond Street
Bond Street
Bond Street is a major shopping street in the West End of London that runs north-south through Mayfair between Oxford Street and Piccadilly. It has been a fashionable shopping street since the 18th century and is currently the home of many high price fashion shops...
London, erected a tent in the garden, and the printed photographs of the guests still exist in the Devonshire archives at Chatsworth
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
. Consuelo, Duchess of Marlborough
Consuelo Vanderbilt
Consuelo Balsan , was a member of the prominent American Vanderbilt family...
remembers Sybil as the outstanding beauty of the Devonshire House Ball:
- "She had perhaps the most perfect face. I can see her now in a Greek peplum impersonating Hebe. The grey feathers of a life-like stuffed eagle perched on her shoulder, set off the glorious sheen of her red hair".
Marriage and issue
On 28 May 1892, she married Anthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of WestmorlandAnthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland
Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland CBE, JP , styled Lord Burghersh between 1860 and 1891, was a British peer.-Background and education:...
. The wedding took place at St. Michael’s in Chester Square
Chester Square
Chester Square is a small, residential garden square located in London's Belgravia district. Along with its sister squares Belgrave Square and Eaton Square, it is one of the three garden squares built by the Grosvenor family when they developed the main part of Belgravia in the 19th century.Chester...
, Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, London. Upon her marriage, Sybil took the title Countess of Westmorland.
The couple had the following children:
- Lieutenant-Commander the Honourable Vere Anthony Francis St.Clair Fane, 14th Earl of WestmorlandVere Fane, 14th Earl of WestmorlandLieutenant-Commander Vere Anthony Francis Fane, 14th Earl of Westmorland , styled Lord Burghersh until 1922, was a British peer....
(b.15 March 1893, d.12 May 1948). - Lady Enid Victoria Rachel Fane (b.24 April 1894, d.9 September 1969).
- Major the Honourable Mountjoy John Charles Wedderburn Fane (b.8 October 1900, d.9 October 1963)
- Lady Violet Gloria Sybil Fane (b.11 April 1902)
External links
http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1158_lafayette/Lafayette Studio archives at the Victoria and Albert MuseumVictoria and Albert Museum
The Victoria and Albert Museum , set in the Brompton district of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England, is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects...
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