Jane Austen's House Acquires Miniature of Austen's Mentor Anne Lefroy

Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, Hampshire, has acquired a portrait miniature of Jane Austen’s close friend and mentor Mrs Anne Lefroy.

Lefroy was a neighbour of the Austen family when they lived in the Hampshire village of Steventon and became a personal friend of the young Jane Austen. Known to her circle as ‘Madam Lefroy’ for her sophisticated tastes and manners, Anne encouraged Jane’s early writings and lent her books from her extensive library: Lefroy has been suggested as the inspiration for the character of Lady Russell in Persuasion.  Anne is also notable for introducing Jane to her nephew Tom Lefroy with whom Jane enjoyed a flirtation in the winter of 1795.

The portrait, which was acquired by Jane Austen’s House at auction at Bonhams in April this year, measures 40mm high and shows Mrs Lefroy in profile, wearing a grey dress, her hair powdered in the fashion of the 1770s. It is believed to date from 1780, when Mrs Lefroy was 31. The portrait is by the artist Richard Crosse.

Anne Lefroy was a great local benefactor in her parish, setting up and teaching at a school for village children, founding a straw plait manufactory for local women and children to earn their own money, and personally vaccinating hundreds of her husband’s parishioners against smallpox. On December 16, 1804 - Jane Austen’s 29th birthday - Anne Lefroy was killed after a fall from her horse. Jane later wrote a poem about the event, and when an announcement of Anne’s death and obituary appeared in The Sun evening newspaper, Jane copied it out by hand.

The portrait miniature is now on display at Jane Austen’s House, alongside Jane’s handwritten copy of Anne Lefroy’s obituary until December 30.

“Portrait miniatures were at the heart of Austen family life," said portrait miniatures expert Emma Rutherford, "as well as providing an emotional vehicle for Jane’s novels. The miniature of Madam Lefroy gives us a glimpse of the woman called ‘Angelic Woman’ by Jane."

Lizzie Dunford, Jane Austen’s House Director added: “Madam Lefroy’s influence looms large over Austen’s life, as well as being an extraordinary woman in her own right. It is very special to be able to see her as a young Jane Austen might have known her.”