A STUNNING portrait of Consuelo Vanderbilt, the US heiress who became known as the ‘Dollar Princess’, has gone on display at Blenheim Palace more than a century after it was painted.
The portrait of Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough, by renowned French artist Paul César Helleu, was drawn during his visit to Blenheim Palace in the spring of 1900 while the Duke was away fighting in the Boer War.
It was bought at auction by the Woodstock palace for an undisclosed sum as part of an ongoing re-acquisition programme of key lost artworks.
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Helleu is best known for his numerous portraits of beautiful society women of the Belle Époque. The Duchess loved the portrait and kept it with her until her death in 1964.
The palace’s Kate Ballenger said: "The portrait is an extremely intimate depiction of the 23-year-old Duchess and features a ribbon to emphasise her famously long neck.
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"The fact she remained so attached to it throughout her life demonstrates how much it meant to her.
"To be able to have such an important and beautiful portrait back on display again here in the Palace is fantastic."
Consuelo Vanderbilt was the highest profile of the American heiresses dubbed the ‘Dollar Princesses’ who were married off to members of European aristocracy.
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She married the 9th Duke of Marlborough at a ceremony in New York in 1895.
Despite the grandeur of the occasion, the union was not a happy one; both bride and groom were in love with other people and the marriage had been arranged behind her back by Consuelo’s mother Alva.
Alva was determined to marry her daughter into European aristocracy and the Duke was in dire need of Consuelo’s fortune – valued at around $4 billion in today’s money – to restore and maintain Blenheim Palace.
In marrying the Duke, Consuelo also became the cousin of Winston Churchill, who was born at Blenheim Palace and would remain a friend and confidant to her throughout her life.
The painting remains on display until Saturday.
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