Social Victorians/People/Von Andre

Also Known As

• Family name: Von André
• Adolf, Baron Von André

Timeline

1897 July 2, Friday, Herr and Mrs. Von André attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House. (Mrs. Mary Von Andé is #289 on the list of people who were present; Adolf, Baron von André is #386.)

1916, Mary Alice Palmer Von André and Frederik (“Fritz”) Hartwig Hermann, Baron Wedel Jarlsberg married.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Mary, Baroness von André as Desdemona. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Adolf, Baron von André as Benvenuto Cellini. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Mrs. Mary Von Andé

Mrs. Mary Von Andé was dressed as Desdemona in the Italian procession, escorted by Mr. Murray Guthrie as Otello.

Lafayette's portrait of "Mary Alice (née Palmer), Baroness von André (later Baroness Wedel Jarlsberg) as Desdemona" in costume is photogravure #286 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Mrs. von André as Desdemona."

Adolf, Baron von André

At the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball, Adolf, Baron von André was dressed as Benvenuto Cellini.

• He was "Benvenuto Cellini, in brown velvet, crimson and pink."
• "Herr von Andre appeared in the picturesque dress of Benvenuto Cellini, which consisted of a jerkin of brown velvet, with crimson slashes on large puffed sleeves, the lower half of the sleeves being fawn-coloured, relieved with gold stars. The vest was of pink silk, slashed with grey satin, and the trunks and trunk hose were of the same colour as the lower half of the sleeves."
• "Herr von André was a splendid Benvenuto Cellini in brown and crimson, a perfect triumph of M. Alias's art."
• He was "(Benvenuto Cellini) jerkin, brown velvet, with crimson slashes; vest, pink silk slashed with grey satin; low-crowned cap, the brim slashed and puffed with crimson, and embroidered gold; green and white feather curling on right side; fine gold chain round neck of shirt."

Lafayette's portrait of "Adolf, Baron von André as Benvenuto Cellini" in costume is photogravure #122 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "Mr. von André as Benvenuto Cellini."

Baron von André might be dressed as the goldsmith and sculptor Benvenuto Cellini (3 November 1500 – 13 February 1571), but Cellini also exists as a character in novels, plays, and opera. Hectorr Berlioz's Benvenuto Cellini, his first, was premiered in Paris in 1838; in 1879 It was revived in Hanover. Staged in London 40 years before the ball, the production was not received well enough for repeat productions. Alexandre Dumas, pére's L'Orfèvre du roi, ou Ascanio, which came out in 1843, was revised into a play in 1852 that was revised in 1890 into an opera, Ascanio, by Camille Saint-Saëns.

Demographics

• Nationality: Mary Alice Palmer von André, American-born

Family

• Mary Alice Palmer von André (1859-1941)
• Adolf, Baron von André (1844-1911)
• Frederik (“Fritz”) Hartwig Hermann, Baron Wedel Jarlsberg (7 July 1855– 27 July 1942)

Questions and Notes

1. The National Portrait Gallery page says he was a "Wealthy financier and venture capitalist."
2. Charles Jones commented on this page as well with the following: "This man held 1705 £5 shares in the London-registered Buenos Ayres and Belgrano Tramways Co in 1897, and was listed in the register as 'merchant, London'."