Two pieces of an Orpen love story
Sir William Orpen’s portraits of Rose, Fourth Marchioness of Headfort (£300,000-500,000) and Geoffrey, Fourth Marquis of Headfort (£60,000-80,000) were first exhibited at London’s the Royal Academy in 1915.
He was one of the most eligible young men of the day from a leading protestant family in Ireland. She was a singer and actress, daughter of a comedian from Nottingham and a Catholic. After they married Rose left the theatre and lived at Headfort House in Ireland and in London. They had three children. He died in 1943, she lived until 1958.
