Julia Janet Georgiana Abercromby

Julia Janet Georgiana Abercromby (1840 – 1915) was a British Courtier, Baroness and artist.

Life

The first "National Portrait" of Queen Victoria was a watercolour by Abercromby

Julia Janet Georginana Duncan was born on 24 January 1840 in Naples. Her father was the 2nd Earl of Camperdown and her mother was Juliana Cavendish Philips.^[1] When she married on 6 October 1858 George Abercromby who was the 4th Baron Abercromby she became a Lady in the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert and was then known as Baroness Abercromby of Aboukir and Tullibody.^[2]

Abercromby was a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria from April 1874 until March 1885. Whilst she was a lady-in-waiting she had the honour of creating the first official portrait of the Queen for the National Portrait Gallery. The gallery had requested paintings in 1867 of the Queen and her consort, Albert. A portrait of Albert was sent almost immediately but it was a portrait by Abercromby that was eventually sent in 1883. The picture was created in watercolour and was actually based on an original work by Heinrich von Angeli. The Queens preference for this portrait is said to be because it does not emphasise the Queen's regalia but the woman behind the power.^[3]

She exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1898. Her portrait on Benjamin Jowett was thought to very close to life and the letters from Jowett indicate a close friendship although Jowett was a friend of her brother Robert Haldane-Duncan, 3rd Earl of Camperdown.^[4]

Abercromby died in 1915 leaving a widower but no children.^[1]

Legacy

Abercromby has paintings in British national collections including the National Portrait Gallery,^[1] Balliol College, Oxford and the Britannia Royal Naval College.^[5]

References

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