Tag Archives: walpole

The name Robert Walpole should sound familiar to you. Born in 1676, Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford is often regarded as the de facto first Prime Minister of Great Britain. He held many positions in the government, including but not limited to; Leader of the Home of Commons, First Lord of the Treasury, and Chancellor of the Exchequer. His political career was extensive. To this day, he remains the longest-serving Prime Minister at 21 years in office although, he always denied the title. While Walpole’s political career is undeniably fascinating, it is not our focus today. Instead, we will look at his family, in particular – his niece. In our upcoming auction, we are delighted to share with you lot 349: Diana Walpole’s mourning ring. The Walpole Family Due to the amount of ‘Roberts’ in the Walpole family, it can be tricky to visualise Diana’s relation to the first Prime Minister. To help visualise, below is a brief family tree. As you can see, Diana Walpole, neé Grosset, was married to Robert Walpole, nephew of Robert Walpole. Together they had a son; Robert Walpole. Through marriage, she became Robert Walpole’s (1st Earl of Orford) niece. Diana was the daughter of Walter Grosset, the Lisbon-based merchant. It is believed that it was Lisbon where she spent her early years and first met her husband. Robert Walpole, following in his father’s and his uncle’s footsteps, held a position in the House of Commons as a clerk in the Privy Council. After, he served as secretary of the British embassy in Paris. However, he is best known as the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Portugal. He was based in Lisbon between 1771 to 1800. Here, is where we presume he first met Diana Grosset. Their son, Robert Walpole, was born in Lisbon, however, he returned to England and became a classical scholar. Hon. Diana Walpole Diana Walpole as Hebe by Thomas Hickey 1781. Credit: Gorry Gallery, Dublin. Diana and her husband married shortly after they met. For Diana, it would have been a considerably beneficial marriage. She came from a relatively humble background, so to marry into the historic and politically affluent Walpole’s would have been socially advantageous. There are several portrait miniatures depicting Diana at different points throughout her life. One portrait, however, is particularly impressive. Recently sold by Gorry Gallery in Dublin, a large oil painting by Thomas Hickey shows Diana in the guise of the ancient goddess Hebe. As Diana was known for being especially beautiful, being cast as a goddess seems fitting. Thomas Hickey was a particularly prolific Irish artist who had arrived in Lisbon not long after Robert Walpole. His portrait of Diana was completed just one year after her marriage to Walpole. Such an extravagant portrait completed by such a well-known artist is no small feat, it is a testament to the depth of the relationship shared by Robert and Diana. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Hebe became an especially popular subject. Many female sitters opted to be portrayed as her. This was probably due to her associations with youth and beauty. In a previous auction here at Fellows, an 18th-century intaglio by William Brown, also showing Hebe, sold for a whopping £12,870 (including fees). Lot 701 A Late Georgian gold carnelian intaglio of Hebe feeding Zeus as an eagle, by William Brown. Price Realised: £12,870.00 Diana Walpole’s Mourning Ring Mourning jewellery, particularly rings, was very popular during the Georgian period. At Fellows, we regularly see mourning rings in our auctions and it is very exciting when we are able to trace the lineage of the people remembered. Inscribed with the name of the deceased, rings such as these are a charming way of persevering connection and memory. Unfortunately, only four years into her marriage, Diana passed away. In her memory Robert had this ring made, and in the reverse, a lock of her hair has been woven and preserved. It is a touching token of the love that she so clearly inspired. Lot 349 A Georgian gold black and white enamel mourning swivel ring, with braided hairwork locket, for the Honourable Diana Walpole. Estimate: £1,200 – £1,800 Valuations Our valuations are free, with no obligation to sell with us. Our experts will value your item with an estimate, so you can therefore find out what it could achieve at auction. The process is simple. You can fill in a form online or book an appointment to visit either of our offices in Birmingham or London. Virtual valuation appointments are also available Cordelia Porter | Research Coordinator