PHYLLIS BRAITHWAITE 'Cracked the Art Case’
Art Case
Edward Hughes identifies the sitter in the 1904 Grand Portrait as 'Cynthia Mary Trench-Gascoigne’.
Where was it displayed? and How could it go missing?
Looking in the right place thanks to Phyllis Braithwaite, 'Cracked the Art Case’.
Born in 1905, estate cottage in Chapel Lane, Barwick-In-Elmet.
Employee and tenant of the Gascoigne family from 1949 to 1979.
Interviewed (1):
Phyllis recounts the Braithwaite family’s link to the 1898 Double Portrait 'Laura Gwendolen and Alvary’.
Her father, John Braithwaite, was an under-keeper at the Gascoignes Parlington estate. His cousin was the nanny to Cynthia and Alvary and
assisted the artist at Lotherton Hall by dressing the 'young master’ for his portrait sittings in 1897. Phyllis recounts the 1898 work was displayed in the Dining Room and Alvary excitedly not viewed himself for days.
See page: Working-Method Step 2 Portrait of Alvary
Crucially in the Art Case, Phyliss doesn’t recount any family reminiscences of the portrait sittings of Cynthia for the 1904 work. Or any personal reminscences about the portrait displayed at Lotherton Hall.
The 'Braithwaite Reminiscences’ are clear,
1904 Portrait of Cynthia Trench-Gascoigne was displayed at another Gascoigne Residence.
In all probability, the Grand Portrait of Cynthia had pride of place at Craignish Castle. Part of a series of audacious commissions by
Frederick R.T.Trench-Gascoigne and Laura Gwendolen.
See Page Links: Craignish Castle
Mildewed and Missing
Significantly in the Art Case, Phyllis gives first-hand accounts of what ”over” looked like in respect of the 'inter-war heyday of the life of the Gascoignes’ at Lotherton Hall. Closing-up the Hall in 1949 with Mrs Routledge (secretary). Packing, storing items and moving furniture into the centre of the rooms (2)
Sir Alvary and Lady Lorna re-instated the Dining Room on their return in 1953. Phyllis candidly described it as dismal looking and unheated.
In the dank atmosphere, the 1898 Double Portrait was mildewed.
These reminiscences make it seem all the more plausible as to what happened at Craignish Castle. In all probability, the 1904 Grand Portrait lost it’s 'pride of place’ because of the 1941 Requisition Notice. In storage, it was only a step-away from going missing.
see page: 1941 Requisition Notice
(1) 'Lotherton Hall Remembered’ by Daru Rooke
Published in Leeds Art Fund Calendar Issue No.108 1991
(2) Phyllis Braithwaite moved into a flat at Lotherton Hall in 1949 to assist in the care of Laura Gwendolen, who died on 2nd June 1949.
And remained, attending to Sir Alvary and Lady Lorna Gascoigne.