Lady Elizabeth Keppel (1739 - 1768)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

RA Collections decolonial research: Reynolds’ sitters

Lady Elizabeth Russell was the daughter of Sir William Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle, and Lady Anne Lennox. She married Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock, in 1764. Her father-in-law was the Duke of Bedford, a Whig politician who served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1757-61 and negotiated the treaty that ended the Seven Year’s War in 1763. Francis Russell died in 1767 after a fall from his horse and Elizabeth died a year later while visiting Portugal. All three of the couple’s sons were Whig politicians. Their second son John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford (1766-1839), was MP for Tavistock and spoke against the abolition of slavery in the House of Commons, advocating instead for increased regulation of the trade in enslaved people.

Sir Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Lady Keppel (see RA 08/1096) was commissioned by her brother George, 3rd Earl of Albemarle (1724-1772). At this time, he was a Lieutenant General in the British Army and the governor of Jersey. Shortly after the portrait was painted, he led the British forces at the Battle of Havana which resulted in Spain surrendering the city, one of the wealthiest ports in the Caribbean. The area was subsequently occupied by the British for a year during which time the plantation system was expanded, and large numbers of enslaved people were trafficked to the island. Albemarle was paid £122,697 in prize money for his part in the venture.

Reynolds painted numerous portraits of Lady Keppel’s immediate and extended family including her mother, her husband, her father-in-law and her sons. He also painted several of her brothers including George, William and Augustus Keppel all of whom were present at the Battle of Havana. Reynolds and Augustus Keppel met in the 1740s and remained lifelong friends. Reynolds painted several portraits of Augustus.