Sholto Johnstone Douglas (1871-1958) Portrait of Mary Catherine, Lady Stapleton (1849-1924) Signed
Sholto Johnstone Douglas (1871-1958) Portrait of Mary Catherine, Lady Stapleton (1849-1924) Signed, oil on canvas, 134cm by 100cm
Mary Catherine (neé Gladstone) was the daughter of Adam Steuart Gladstone of Hazelwood, Hertfordshire. She married first Sir Francis Stapleton, 8th Baronet (1831-1899) but was widowed in 1899. In 1902 she married William Dalziel Mackenzie (1840-1928) Member of Parliament for Reading and later Truro and Woodstock. She lived with Mackenzie at his family seat, Fawley Court in Buckinghamshire, which was reputedly the inspiration for Toad Hall in Kenneth Graeme's Wind in the Willows.
Sholto Johnstone Douglas was born in Edinburgh and studied in Paris, Antwerp and the Slade School of Fine Art. He was the third cousin of the 9th Marquess of Queensbury who as well as inventing the rules of modern boxing was also a key figure in the downfall of Oscar Wilde. During Wilde's trial for "gross indecency" he was released on bail and Sholto Johnstone Douglas stood surety for the bail money.