Clementine Freeman-Mitford

Identity:

Clementine Gertrude Helen Ogilvy was the daughter of the nineth Earl of Airlie and his wife Blanche. In 1874 she married Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford of Batsford Park, Gloucestershire, and Birdhope Craig, Northumberland, was a diplomat and collector, who became Lord Redesdale in 1886. They had seven children: Frances Georgiana (b. 20 November 1875); Clement Bertram Ogilvy (b. 14 December 1876); David Bertram Ogilvy (b. 13 March 1878); Iris Elizabeth (b. 28 February 1879); Bertram Thomas Carlyle Ogilvy (b. 2 June 1880); John Power Bertram Ogilvy (b. 31 January 1881); and Joan (b. 7 December 1882).

Life:

According to the Pennells, Whistler painted Mitford's portrait in 'Van Dyck costume', Portrait of Lord Redesdale y188. He also painted a portrait of Mitford's wife 'in draperies of Chinese blue silk', Portrait of Lady Redesdale y189. Both paintings were slashed to pieces by Whistler to prevent them from falling into the hands of his creditors.

From 1874, Mitford and his wife lived at Lindsey Row, later moving to 99-100 Cheyne Walk, near both Whistler and D. G. Rossetti.

The UK census for 1881 records the Mitfords living at Nos. 99-100 Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, with their five children and Freeman-Mitford senior, their needs thoroughly met by a butler, footman, cook, nursery maid, housemaid, nurse, and kitchen maid. Among the local merchants and tradesmen living in that street were several artists: John S. Cuthbert lived next door at No.101; the Greaves family (Walter specifically named himself 'Artist') at Nos. 103-4, and Whistler's usually unpaid fishmonger William Charles at No. 105; in the other direction, Anna Lee Merritt lived at No. 95, William Bell Scott at No. 92.

They were on good terms with Whistler for many years and supported Whistler artistically. In 1883 Clementine Mitford bought one of Whistler's Venice etchings. Her husband went to Whistler's 'Ten O'Clock Lecture' on 20 February 1885 at the Prince's Hall, Piccadilly. Clementine Mitford told Whistler that it was '"the most brilliant thing" Bertie had ever heard' and expressed her disappointment at not being present herself [GUW #04084].

Bibliography:

Mitford, Algernon Bertram, Memoirs, London, 1915; Mitford, Algernon Bertram, Little Memories, London, 1917.

UK census 1881, Ancestry.com

Sir Bernard Burke, A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, 2 vols, London, 1894; Debrett's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, London, 1896; Who's Who, London, 1905; Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908; Pennell, Joseph, and Elizabeth Robins Pennell, The Joseph and Elizabeth Robins Pennell Collection of Whistleriana Shown in Division of Prints, Library of Congress, Southwest Pavilion, Washington, G.P.O. Library Branch, 1921; Young, Andrew McLaren, Margaret F. MacDonald, Robin Spencer and Hamish Miles, The Paintings of James McNeill Whistler, New Haven and London, 1980; MacDonald, Margaret F., James McNeill Whistler. Drawings, Pastels and Watercolours. A Catalogue Raisonné, New Haven and London, 1995.

The Correspondence of James McNeill Whistler, 1855-1903, edited by Margaret F. MacDonald, Patricia de Montfort and Nigel Thorp; including The Correspondence of Anna McNeill Whistler, 1855-1880, edited by Georgia Toutziari. Online edition, University of Glasgow, 2004.

The Mitford Family, Wikipedia.