There are so many reasons I love to visit National Trust Houses, least of which is their astounding array of artworks. I kinda hyperventilate sometimes when I recognise a very famous painting.. just hanging there. Other times, when the room may be quiet, and the attendant is particularly helpful, I will get some history behind pieces; which again brings it all to life and more excitement about the place.
This painting is one that the duchess at Nunnington hated with a passion. It was painted when she was about 12 and held so many flaws that the painting was hidden until past her death. Her daughter, the most recent owner of the property before it was handed to the National Trust ensured that the painting was hung in pride of place along with its story.
The duchess maintains that the dress was so scratchy and dreadful to wear, that it was only used for the sitting. Her family was shocked that the artist placed her on a couch in the way she is sitting, as she would never have been allowed to sit on the arms like this. She would never have been allowed to have shoes on near the furniture and certainly never have been allowed to have an outside toy within the house, let alone the sitting room. The best bit about this story is, is that the duchess's mother saw the painting and got the artist to come back and extend the length of the dress by a few inches as the actual dress was far too short and showed her knees. LOL!
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