5902

Lady Joan Joicey, née Lady Joan Lambton 1923

Seated half-length with her left hand to her chin and her right on her lap, wearing a mauve and gold chiffon stole over her white evening dress, with a long pearl necklace and drop pearl earrings

Oil on canvas, 94.7 x 68.6 (37 ¼ x 27 in.)

Inscribed lower right: de László / 1923

Laib L11104(760) / C13(34)

NPG Album 1923, p. 29

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 37: Joan Joicey. June 21st 1923 -

Private Collection

De László painted this portrait as a pendant to that of the sitter’s husband in 1923 [5904]. The artist made seven portraits of the Joicey family over a period of thirteen years. James Joicey, 1st Baron Joicey was the subject of a portrait drawing in 1916 [5899] and a three-quarter length portrait in 1929 [5912]. His daughter Marguerite was painted in 1917 [5907] and daughter-in-law Georgina in 1924 [5909].

Lady Joan Katherine Lambton was born 21 September 1893, the youngest daughter of the 4th Earl of Durham. On 19 July 1921 she married the Honourable Hugh Edward Joicey (1881-1966), the second son of 1st Baron Joicey, and his first wife Elizabeth (1856-1881). There were two sons of the marriage: David (born 1922), who died of wounds received at Salerno in 1943, and Michael (born 1925), who succeeded as 4th Baron Joicey on the death of his father in 1966.

The sitter’s family described her as a shy person, but extremely talented in the creative arts. She was a skilled painter and needlewoman, excelling in tapestry work, and regularly made goods to be sold at charity bazaars. During the Second World War she served as Commandant of the Red Cross convalescent home at Ford Castle.^[1] In 1940 her husband succeeded his brother as 3rd Baron Joicey.

Lady Joicey died 4 January 1967, twelve weeks after her husband.

KF 2019