Lady Marian Alford
(1817-1888)

Volume 1, page 107, sitting number 631.

Viscountess Marianne Margaret Cust, Viscountess Alford, née Compton, (known as Lady Marian Alford) was an artist, art patron and author. She was born in Rome in 1817 and died at Ashridge Park, Berkhampstead, Hertfordshire, on 8 February 1888.

A short obituary appeared a few days later in the Illustrated London News (18 February 1888). 'Lady Marian Margaret Alford, widow of John Hume, Viscount Alford, and mother of the present Earl Brownlow, died at Ashridge, Herts, on Feb. 8, aged seventy-one. Her Ladyship was elder daughter of the second Marquis of Northampton; was married, Feb. 10, 1841, to Viscount Alford, eldest son of the first Earl Brownlow; and had two sons, John William Spencer, the second Earl, and Adelbert Wellington, the present Earl Brownlow. Lord Alford died Jan. 3, 1851, during his father's lifetime. Lady Marian, an accomplished artist, has left many beautiful drawings and water-colour paintings. Her book on art-needlework is a standard authority on the subject.'