Lydiard House Museum acquires portrait of Lady Diana Beauclerk

The Friends of Lydiard Park have acquired a portrait of Lady Diana Beauclerk, former resident of Lydiard Park and noted artist, to hang in the State Rooms of Lydiard House.

Born Diana Spencer in 1734, Lady Di as she was known, married Frederick St John, 2nd Viscount Bolingbroke, the extravagant and ill-tempered owner of Lydiard Park. Lady Diana’s marriage to Bolingbroke was notoriously abusive and ended in divorce through a highly publicised Act of Parliament.

A talented artist from childhood, Lady Diana drew on the sights and experiences of life at Lydiard for her drawings and paintings. She became one of the few aristocratic women of the day to support herself with her income from painting and was also one of the first women to design for Josiah Wedgwood.

Chair of the Friends of Lydiard Park, Sarah Finch Crisp said:

“This newly identified portrait of Lady Diana has recently emerged from a private collection. Attributed to George Perfect Harding (1779/80 – 1853) the painting depicts Lady Diana as a classical artist, with a pencil in her right hand and an album of drawings in her left.

It is an accomplished copy of a much admired portrait of her by Sir Joshua Reynolds which was painted while she was still Viscountess Bolingbroke and Lady of the Manor at Lydiard Park.  Following conservation to both the painting and the frame, we are delighted to present this portrait to Lydiard House.”

Councillor Matty Courtliff, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience, said:

“We are thrilled to be able to display this new portrait of Lady Diana Beauclerk and are very grateful to The Friends of Lydiard Park who have purchased and conserved it for the benefit of Lydiard House Museum and the visiting public.

“We are looking forward to the painting going on show at the end of August. Lydiard House Museum contains the largest public collection of Lady Diana’s work in the UK and the new portrait will complement existing pieces on display.”

The Portrait of Lady Diana Beauclerk will be available to view in the Diana Room at Lydiard House Museum from Wednesday, 31st August.

For those wanting to find out more, Lydiard House Museum has teamed up with the Friends of Lydiard Park to offer four specially curated tours. On Sunday, 11th September, author and historian Nicola Cornick will tell the story of Lady Diana Beauclerk in the first tour of the series. Tickets cost £15 for an adult and include a delicious afternoon tea. Spaces must be booked in advance through the Lydiard Park website.

Lydiard House Museum is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 4pm (last admission 3.30pm).

Admission to Lydiard House Museum costs £5 for an adult and £2.75 for a child (Under 3s go free). Family tickets are also available. Until 4 September 2022, up to four children aged 3 to 15 years can visit for just £1 when accompanied by a full-paying adult. Under 3s go free.

To find out more, please visit: www.lydiardpark.org.uk/museum

Follow the Museum on Facebook and Instagram @LydiardHouseMuseum, or Twitter @LydiardMuseum.

To find out more about The Friends of Lydiard Park visit: www.friendsoflydiardpark.org.uk