Another pose from the same sitting

Volume 1, page 274, sitting number 1276.

The Duchess of Wellington died, aged 83, on 13 August 1904 at Bearhill Park, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey.

'Elizabeth Duchess of Wellington was buried by the side of her husband, the second Duke, in the family vault of the Wellseleys under the church at Strathfieldsaye [sic]. In her early days she was the companion and favourite of the Great Duke, and as the Marchioness of Douro had the reputation of being one of the most beautiful women to be seen at any Court. To the last she retained in a marvellous degree her beauty and captivating personality. All the members of the Royal Family were devoted to her and held her in the highest respect, and but a short time ago the King presented her with a valuable bracelet of turquoises and diamonds as a souvenir of Queen Victoria. She was on several occasions Mistress of the Robes during the last reign, having previously been for sixteen years Bedchamber Woman to her Majesty. Years ago the entertainments give by the Duchess when at Apsley House were famous, and were almost always attended by Royalty. In everything of an elevated nature she was deeply interested. Music had the greatest attraction for her, Boxer the famous harpist declaring her to be his best pupil. Since her husband's death, twenty years ago, she had resided at Bearhill Park, Walton-on-Thames. Her munificent charities to Hersham and the surrounding parishes made her greatly beloved in that district, and only those intimately associated with her know the many good actions she performed in a quiet and unostentatious way. Bearhill, where she died on the 13th inst., the anniversary of her husband's death, is of considerable interest. It contains numerous mementoes of the hero of Waterloo and of Queen Victoria. In the morning-room hangs a picture of the grandfather of the Great Duke surrounded by his family, painted by Hogarth at Dangan Castle in 1731, while on the staircase is a representation of Landseer's picture of the Duke on the plain of Waterloo telling the late Duchess the story of the famous battle. The Duchess's greatest treasure at Bearhill, however, was the watch which Wellington wore at Waterloo, and which, when awaiting the arrival of Blucher, he so anxiously consulted as evening approached. Most of the pictures of the Royal Family will shortly be removed to Yester, Haddingtonshire, the seat of the Marquis of Tweeddale, while miniatures and other heirlooms have been left to the present Duke of Wellington.

'The late Duchess before her marriage was Lady Elizabeth Hay, fourth daughter of the eighth Marquis of Tweeddale, a soldier who shared with Wellington his Peninsular victories and was wounded when acting aide-de-camp to the great warrior at Busaco [sic]. The present Marquis of Tweeddale is her eldest brother, and another brother is the gallant Admiral of the Fleet Lord John Hay, the first administrator of Cyprus, while Lady Jane Taylor and Lady Emily Peel are her sisters' (Morning Post, 23 August 1904).