SIR WILLIAM NICHOLSON (1872-1949)

Diamond Evelyn Violet Hardinge (1900-1927) was the only daughter of Lord Hardinge of Penhurst, Viceroy of India between 1910 and 1916. Nicholson had travelled to India in December 1914 with a commission to paint the Viceroy (Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi); this portrait of his fourteen year old daughter dates from the early months of the following year. Hardinge was devoted to Diamond, who had been named after the winner of the 1900 Derby, 'Diamond Jubilee' - King Edward VII's horse. She later acted as his hostess when he was British Ambassador in Paris between 1920 and 1922, and is mentioned in several memoirs of the period.

We are very grateful to Patricia Reed for her assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.