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Social Victorians/People/Devonshire

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Also Known As edit

  • Family name: Cavendish
  • Duke of Devonshire
    • William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire, 18 January 1858 – 21 December 1891
    • Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire, 21 December 1891 – 24 March 1908
  • Duchess of Devonshire
    • [The 7th Duke's wife Blanche Georgiana Howard Cavendish died in 1840, 18 years before he acceded to the dukedom, so there was no Duchess of Devonshire between 1806 (when Lady Georgiana Spencer Cavendish, the famous wife of the 5th Duke, died) and 1891.]
    • Louisa (or Luise) Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu Cavendish, 16 August 1892 – 15 November 1911
  • The dukedom of Devonshire has subsidiary titles, including the Marquis or Marquess of Hartington for the eldest son and heir apparent of the Duke of Devonshire. The eldest son of the Marquis of Hartington has the courtesy title Earl of Burlington; the eldest son of the Earl of Burlington has the courtesy title Lord Cavendish.

Demographics edit

  • Nationality: English

Residences edit

  • Chatsworth House, Derbyshire

Family edit

  • William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire (27 April 1808 – 21 December 1891)
  • Blanche Georgiana Howard Cavendish (11 January 1812 – 27 April 1840)
  1. Louisa Caroline Cavendish ( – 21 September 1907)
  2. William Cavendish (8 October 1831 – 15 May 1834)
  3. Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire (23 July 1833 – 24 March 1908)
  4. Frederick Charles Cavendish (30 November 1836 – 6 May 1882)
  5. Edward Cavendish (28 January 1838 – 18 May 1891)



  • Victor Christian William Cavendish, 9th Duke of Devonshire (31 May 1868 – 6 May 1938)
  • Lady Evelyn Emily Mary Petty-FitzMaurice (27 August 1870 – 2 April 1960)
  1. Edward William Spencer Cavendish, 10th Duke of Devonshire (6 May 1895 – 26 November 1950)
  2. Lady Maud Louisa Emma Cavendish (20 April 1896 – 30 March 1975)
  3. Lady Blanche Katherine Cavendish (2 February 1898 – 1987)
  4. Lady Dorothy Evelyn Cavendish (28 July 1900 – 21 May 1966)
  5. Lady Rachel Cavendish (22 January 1902 – 2 October 1977)
  6. Lord Charles Arthur Francis Cavendish (29 August 1905 – 23 March 1944)
  7. Lady Anne Cavendish (20 August 1909 – 1981)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies edit

Timeline edit

1892 August 16, Spencer Compton Cavendish (8th Duke) and Louisa Friederike Auguste Gräfin von Alten Montagu, the Duchess of Manchester, married in Christ Church, Mayfair.

1897 July 2, Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke, and Louisa Friederike Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, hosted the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball edit

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Louisa, Duchess of Devonshire sat at Table 1, escorted by the Prince of Wales. Her costume was designed by M. Comelli (possibly Atillo Comelli, 1858–1925, Italian artist and costumier for ballet?). Or by the House of Worth?

Gossipy newspaper reports before the ball reported on how costumes were being made. For example, according to the Edinburgh Evening News on 21 June 1897, "The ball being a fancy dress one, men as well as women will be able in certain characters to wear jewels. The Duchess of Devonshire, who is to appear as Zenobia, is getting her jewels reset after the antique style" (Edinburgh 1897-06-21).

The Western Gazette describes the Duke of Duchess of Devonshire receiving their guests: <quote>The Duchess of Devonshire began to receive her guests soon after 10 o'clock, and looked handsome and stately as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, all green and white and gold, with huge diamonds hanging from the horns of a gold helmet, studded with jewels, and with quantities of her beautiful pearls hanging in chains all about her head and shoulders. Beside her stood the Duke of Devonshire, very Titianesque as Charles V. of Germany, in black velvet with furs.</quote> (Western 2, Col. 7B).

The Morning Post describes Louisa's costume in this way:

  • <quote>The Duchess of Devonshire, as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, wore a magnificent costume. The skirt of gold tissue was embroidered all over in a star-like design in emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and other jewels outlined with gold, the corners where it opened in front being elaborately wrought in the same jewels and gold to represent peacocks' outspread tails. This opened to show an under-dress of cream crêpe de chine, delicately embroidered in silver, gold, and pearls, and sprinkled all over with diamonds. The train was attached to the shoulders by two slender points, and was fastened at the waist with a large diamond ornament. It was of green velvet of a lovely shade, and was superbly embroidered in Oriental designs, introducing the lotus flower in rubies, sapphires, amethysts, emeralds, and diamonds, in four borderings on contrasting grounds, separated with gold cord. The train was lined with turquoise satin. The bodice was composed of gold tissue to match the skirt, and the front was of crêpe de chine, hidden with a stomacher of real diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and there was a jeweled belt. A gold crown encrusted with emeralds, diamonds, and rubies with a diamond drop at each curved end and two up-standing white ostrich feathers in the centre, and round the front were festoons of pearls with a large pear-shaped pearl in the centre falling on the forehead.</quote> (MornPost Fancy 1897-07-03)

Lady Violet Greville's article in the Graphic includes the Lafayette photograph with this description of Louisa's costume:

  • <quote>Skirt of gold tissue, embroidered all over with emeralds, sapphires, diamonds, and other jewels outlined with gold. This opened to show an underdress of crème crêpe de chine, embroidered in silver, gold, and pearls, and sprinkled all over with diamonds. The train was green velvet, superbly embroidered in Oriental designs. The bodice was composed of gold tissue, and the front was of crêpe de chine hidden with a stomacher of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds. A gold crown encrusted with emeralds, diamonds, and rubies, with a diamond drop at each curved end and two upstanding white ostrich feathers in the middle, and round the front festoons of pearls with a large pea-shaped pearl in the centre.</quote> (Graphic 1897-07-10)

Greville also says that "The Ducal hostess herself elected to appear as Zenobia, Queen of Palmyra, with lavish magnificence, and wearing a corruscation of jewels which must have eclipsed the state of even the all-subduing majesty the Duchess impersonated" and had a "resplendent" court in one of the "Oriental" processions (Graphic 1897-07-10).

Louisa Cavendish's portrait in costume was included in the album presented to her and now in the National Portrait Gallery ("Duchess"). The printing on the portrait says, "The Duchess of Devonshire as Zenobia Queen of Palmyra," with a Long S in Duchess.

The article in the Daily News, of which Oppenheim (who was at the ball) was one proprietor, says the Duchess of Devonshire was a <quote>vision, dressed as "Zenobia," in a glistening gold gauze gown, elaborately ornamented with suns and discs, wrought in purple and green gems outlined with gold, and having a large diamond as centre. The space between was fluted with fine silver spangles. This robe was open in front over an under dress of white crépe de chine, delicately worked in crystals, and at each side of the opening on the gold robe were large fan-shaped groups of peacock feathers, worked in multicoloured. jewels. The corsage was to correspond, and had a magnificent girdle of jewels, the train of bright green velvet, hung like a fan, without folds, being fastened at each side of the shoulders by diamond brooches, and caught at the waist with a similar ornament. It was a mass of gorgeous embroidery, carried out in heliotrope velvet, lotus flowers studded with tinted gems, and other devices in terra- cotta and electric blue velvet - all enriched with gold, diamond, and jewelled embroidery -- and lined with pale blue satin. The crown worn with this was high, and of filigree gold, sur- mounted with two horns, each tipped with a large diamond. It was encrusted with large diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, and long chains of pearls fell under the chin and about the head - one magnificent pear-shaped pearl resting on the forehead. Attending the hostess were four children, four fan-bearers, and four trumpeters, all magnificently arrayed in artistically embroidered Assyrian robes, helmets, and other accessories, correct in every detail.</quote> (London Daily News 1897-07-03). Spencer Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire, was dressed as Charles V., Emperor of Germany. He stood at the top of the stairs to greet the guests, with Louisa Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, and sat at Table 2 for supper, having escorted in the Princess of Wales.

  • The Morning Post describes his costume in this way: "The Duke of Devonshire — Charles V., Emperor of Germany. Black velvet coat embroidered in black velvet and jet and lined with black fur, doublet and trunks of black brocaded velvet, the latter slashed with black satin, black tights, and black velvet cap" (MornPost Fancy 1897-07-03).
  • Lady Violet Greville's article in the Graphic says this: "The noble host, who appeared to dignified advantage impersonating the great Emperor Charles V., of wide-spreading dominions (his dress accurately reproduced by M. Alias after the portrait by Titian" (Graphic 1897-07-10).
  • "The Duke of Devonshire was attired as Charles V. of Germany, in sombre black velvet slashed with white satin, and relieved by the handsome Order of the Fleece" (London Daily News 1897-07-03).

Spencer Cavendish's portrait in costume was also included in the album ("Duke"). The printing on the portrait says, "The Duke of Devonshire K.G. as the Emperor Charles V."

Questions and Notes edit

  1. Get the description from the Times.

Bibliography edit

Works Cited on Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's Ball edit

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