EQUESTRIAN PORTRAIT OF LADY MERCY GREVILLE, SKETCH FOR.

See also: Equestrian portrait of Lady Mercy Greville.

Images: donated by owner.

Images: Nadeau’s.

  • Title(s): Equestrian portrait of Lady Mercy Greville, Sketch for (this web site); Portrait study of a young girl, Lady Mercy Martyr daughter of Frances Countess of Warwick (Nadeau’s, 2025).
  • Description: Oil sketch of the upper body and head of Lady Mercy Greville, as seen in the finished work Equestrian portrait of Lady Mercy Greville.
  • Media: Oil on canvas (Nadeau’s, 2025).
  • Dimensions: 20 x 16 (Nadeau’s, 2025).
  • Signature/date/other text: As detailed below.
  • History:
    • Note: unclear whether 1931 and 1934 references are to this or the finished portrait.
    • 1927 – Shown in The Royal Academy Illustrated, 1927; The Times, 2 May 1927; Country Life, 14 May 1927.
    • 1931 – “There is an inscription and date on the backing « 1931 property of Miss Sargent » (refers to Emily Sargent, John Singer Sargent’s sister)” (private correspondence).
    • 1934 – Exhibited Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool (Nadeau’s, 2025).
    • 1931 – Exhibited French Gallery (“158, New Bond-street”) – English painting from 1900 to 1931. [The Times, 26 Nov 1931], .
    • 2018 – Shown in Susan Thomson (2018) The Life and Works of Annie Louisa Swynnerton. Warrington: Manchester Art Press.
    • 2025 Apr 26 – Auctioned Nadeau’s Auction Gallery, Connecticut, US, “Portrait study of a young girl, Lady Mercy Martyr daughter of Frances Countess of Warwick / Inscribed illegibly lower right, signed on verso Annie L. Swynnerton, original labels on verso … Provenance: Walker Art Gallery Exhibition 1934, Liverpool 1934 Dicksea and Company / The Estate of John L. Hughes of Southport, Connecticut”, sold: hammer $3000, premium $3,965.
  • Location: Private collection.

Eight labels with writing on the back (plus remnants of others) and two inscriptions:

  • Label 1 (top left): “1934 / WALKER ART GALLERY / SIXTIETH AUTUMN EXHIBITION”.
  • Label 2 (top left outer frame): “Mercy Greville / Study for an Equestrienn[e] / The Property of / Miss Sargent / Carly… Mansions”.
  • Label 3 (top right outer frame): “no 2 WI.AC. / [T]he Hon. Mercy Greville / sketch / by AL. / Mrs. Swynnerton / AA[G] / … Miss Sargent”.
  • Label 4 (top right outer frame): “CHA………ST. / 117, FINCH……… [LO]NDON, N…”.
  • Label 5 (centre right outer frame): “LIVERPOOL. / 1934. / DICKSEE & Co.”.
  • Label 6 (top right inner frame): “17 ……… SSAC ST ……… / ……… STREET, W. ……… / … 71 & 7588”.
  • Label 7 (bottom centre outer frame): illegible.
  • Label 8: Poem (see below).
  • Inscription 1 (on back of canvas): “Annie [L.] Swynnerton”.
  • Inscription 2 (on frame): “The Property of Miss Sargent / … Carlyle Mansions Chelsea / London S.W… / Aug 22nd 1921”.

The following poem (‘label 8’) is attached the back of the picture:

Unfortunately the poem is difficult to read. The best I can make out is given below, uncertain words in square brackets, unreadable words ‘…’. Please email me at swynnerton.blog@gmail.com if you can help.

On Mrs Swynnerton’s portrait of the Hon. Mercy Greville.

What … of …, what new victory
Of … … of cloud and …!
… in the … of the slight …, what nerve!
…, with what … …
The long-…, downwards-glancing eyes observe!
Yet this no airy [coinage/courage] of the sky
Such … … …, in mid July,
When … … through … … …,
… childhood’s vision, unforgettable,
With … …, delicious [wave of blood],
… … … … …
See her bestride her …less pony well,
… to the high … mood,
Though … [voice] in … cry “Take Care!”
by [G.] H. …stein.

Page last updated 13 May 2025.