Bewitching trio: Famed beauties to star in new show

A PORTRAIT of three of 18th century society's most glamorous and notorious women, including Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, as witches from Shakespeare's Macbeth has been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery.

The work will go on show in the London gallery's first exhibition devoted to 18th century portraits of actresses.

The First Actresses: Nell Gwyn To Sarah Siddons, includes 53 portraits of actresses by artists such as Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough.

The newly-acquired work shows Georgiana with Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne - gathered around a witches' cauldron with their friend, the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer.

Executed in pastel in 1775 by Daniel Gardner, it was allocated to the National Portrait Gallery from a private collection in lieu of inheritance tax.

Georgiana, daughter of the first Earl Spencer, married the fifth Duke of Devonshire and was one of the greatest celebrities of her day.

The exhibition runs from 20 October to 8 January.