G F Zink Miniature Portrait of King Edward's Mistress

This unique and finely painted portrait of Alice Keppel was inspired by a society portrait taken by the English-American photographer Ernest Walter Histed in 1901 now in the safe keeping of Polesden Lacey House. Painted on ivory, the portrait is signed and dated 1903 both on the obverse in monogram and in full on the backing card.

Alice Keppel, a woman of beauty, charm and ambition, was a British socialite who famously became mistress to King Edward VII. Born in 1868, her childhood home was historic Duntreath Castle near Glasgow. In June 1891, aged 23, she married George Keppel of the 2nd Gordon Highlanders at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge, her six bridesmaids decked out in Gainsborough hats.

The Keppels were a well-connected family though by no means wealthy and, although Alice and George were happy together, they both indulged in frequent affairs. Drawn to powerful men, Alice was a popular society hostess. Upon first meeting her around 1898, Edward, Prince of Wales was instantly attracted to her. The couple’s affair was to last twelve years with Alice accompanying him on regular trips to Biarritz and attending his Coronation. Always discreet and tolerated by Queen Alexandra, it was claimed that Alice tempered the King’s moods and guided his political decisions. Graciously permitted by the Queen to attend the King’s deathbed, she was grief-stricken by his death in 1901 and forced to re-invent herself in order to retain her position in London society. She and her husband travelled extensively only returning to London upon the outbreak of war to make The Ritz hotel their new base. The couple had two daughters: Violet Trefusis (best remembered for her affair with Vita Sackville-West) and Sonia Rosemary Cubitt, grandmother to the future Queen Camilla.

Alice Keppel died in 1947, aged 79, at her villa in Florence and was mourned as “the last great Edwardian beauty”. George, broken-hearted, died just a few months later. The couple were laid to rest side by side at the Protestant Cemetery in Florence.

Set against an inky blue sky in a wooded landscape, Alice is shown wearing a black and white dress with cut-out details to the sleeves accessorised with a sumptuous pearl choker (a style made fashionable by Queen Alexandra), her auburn curls topped with a wide-brimmed hat adorned with feathers. The portrait is signed GF Zink in monogram bottom right and dated 1903. It is further signed in full within. It is set in a gilt metal frame with ribband cresting, the reverse featuring a starburst design in vibrant colours.

Born in Glasgow to German parents, George Frederick Zink (1862-1946) followed in his father’s footsteps by taking up portrait painting. Based in London, he exhibited miniature portraits between 1882 and 1939 and counted aristocracy and royalty amongst his clientele. His portrait of HRH Princess Wilhelmina of Netherlands, exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1888, is held in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Framed Size: 85 x 70mm + cresting

Ivory Exemption Ref.: Y76UZTVP

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