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Nancy Astor 1879–1964
Nancy Astor made history in 1919 as the first woman to take her seat in the British House of Commons, where she served as a Conservative Member. The daughter of a prosperous railroad entrepreneur from Virginia, she had moved to England after divorcing her first husband. Subsequently, she married Waldorf Astor, the son of enormously wealthy American expatriates. Despite her pioneering political role, Astor's legacy is decidedly mixed. She championed certain women's issues, such as widows' pensions and equal employment opportunities, yet she openly expressed bigoted views on race and religion.
This drawing, made when Astor was in her late twenties, marks the beginning of her playful friendship with Sargent, which endured until the artist's death. It captures Astor's youthful zest -- face expressive and mobile, lips just parted, hair flame-like in the light. Sargent made a rare exception to his embargo on painted portraits for Astor in 1908.
Charcoal on paper, 1907
Collection of The Viscount Astor
This is the National Portrait Gallery sign in the exhibit. |