Mrs Sutherland Orr was Leighton’s sister. She had a remarkable life. Born in St Petersburg, where her father was doctor to the Russian royal family, Alexandra Leighton was a goddaughter of the Tsarina. In 1857, she married a Captain Sutherland Orr, who was serving with the British army in India. They were caught up in the Indian Mutiny – she was captured but eventually rescued by a local chieftain. Her husband was badly wounded and died the following year. The picture shows Mrs Sutherland Orr in mourning dress.

Leighton was born into a cosmopolitan family and from an early age he travelled widely. He was a very successful artist. As a young man he specialised in Biblical and medieval scenes; later he moved on to classical subjects. Portraits were never his speciality.