LOOK up the family tree of any British aristocrat and almost invariably there’s an Irish connection. Winston Churchill’s brother was born in Dublin, where their father served as Secretary to the Viceroy.
John Strange “Jack” Spencer-Churchill didn’t dally long in the Phoenix Park and was soon dispatched to England and a public school education at Harrow. Although overshadowed by his brother who became British prime minister, Jack had a distinguished military career, reached the rank of major and had good wars (Boer and Great).
He married Lady Gwendoline Theresa Mary Bertie in 1908 and they lived at Cromwell Road in West London. Among their friends and neighbours was Irish artist Sir John Lavery who painted various family members including Lady Gwendoline.
The fur-draped grande dame, affectionately nicknamed ‘Goonie’, was a leading society beauty in Edwardian London and one of the city’s best-dressed women.
According to Lady Cynthia Asquith, in a diary entry: “she was the most marvellous peg for clothes. Everything looks superlatively chic on her – things that might appear dowdy on others”.
Lavery's depiction of Lady Gwendoline, A Lady in Brown, which has been in private ownership for 90 years, is one of the highlights in The Irish Saleat Sotheby's in London on March 29th, with an estimate of £100,000-£150,000 (€117,000-€175,000).
