Lady Lavery

Hazel, Lady Lavery (1886–1935, née Hazel Martyn) was a painter and the second wife of the celebrated portrait artist Sir John Lavery. Born in Chicago, she married her first husband, Edward Trudeau, a physician, in 1903. He died the following year. She first met John Lavery in 1904 and they married in 1909. The Laverys’ marriage was tempestuous, and Lady Lavery is reputed to have had affairs with Kevin O’Higgins and Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary leader. Hazel Lavery features in over 400 portraits by Lavery. She is remembered for having her likeness appearing on Banknotes of the Republic of Ireland for much of the 20th century. This painting was carried out while Hazel Lavery was still Mrs Trudeau, travelling in Europe with her family. Hazel was ill with nephritis at this time, which may account for her ghostly appearance. Lavery possessed an innate skill for portraying the texture and lustre of fur and the way in which it so flattered the ivory complexion of the sitter. 

Ran across this video of Lady Lavery. I have never heard of her but she is lovely. Very interesting. The lady with the most portraits wins! In 1909 she and Lavery married. Subsequently, she became Lavery’s most frequent sitter. She sat for more than 400 portraits by Sir John. Many were similarly named, leading an expert to remark that “Hazel in…” is virtually a Lavery trademark.