Kathleen Winifred Molesworth Aged 3

Portrait Oil Kathleen Winifred Molesworth Aged 3 (b.1896-d.1973). I am delighted to offer for sale this charming oil portrait on canvas laid to board. The portrait depicts an half length oil portrait of Kathleen Winifred Molesworth aged 3 years, according to the information hand written on the back, although the artist is unknown, may possibly have been painted by a close family member. She is wearing a cream dress with smocking and puffed sleeves and has shoulder length fair hair with a fringe. Kathleen Winifred Molesworth was born in Salem, Madras, India, on 15th June, 1896. the daughter of Surgeon Captain, later Colonel, William Molesworth and his wife Winifred Anne nee Weekes. Her father was in the Indian Medical Service and achieved the letters Mb, Bs, Mrcs, Lrcp, Cie & Cbe after his name. The family are listed in Burke's Peerage. In common with many children of parents resident in India, Kathleen was sent to Britain to boarding school at Bayham House in Folkestone, where she was in 1911 at the age of 14. On 18th October 1919 in Simla, Bengal, she married Alfred Alyson Fennal Michin, who was a Conservator in the Indian Forest Service. She travelled between the UK and India frequently, as her eldest son Patrick Molesworth Minchin was born on 27th August 1920 in Madras, her younger son Henry Desmond Penkivel Minchin was born in Sussex in 1923. Patrick was a Captain in the Indian Army in Wwii, but lived until 2nd July 2007 and is buried in Edrom Church, Duns, Berwickshire, along with his mother, near to the family home Cruicksfield, which is now a B listed Scottish mansion with farm attached. Henry Desmond Penkivel, known as Desmond, was a Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion King's Own Scottish Borders and was killed in action in Wwii at Le Haut Du Bosq, Normandy on 1st July 1944. He is buried in Bayeux War Cemetery. He and the 16 men who died with him in this action, are commemorated in a memorial window and plaque in Christ Church, Duns, presumably commissioned by his parents. He is also listed on a memorial plaque in Bonkyl Kirk in the parish of Bonkyl & Preston. Kathleen outlived her husband, who died in 1973 aged 85, but by 1976, was living at Cruicksfield, Duns, the family seat, where she died on 17th March 1998 and was buried at Edrom Church, along with her father and eldest son. (Her eldest son had two sons, one of whom died before the age of 1 and the other died at 51 without issue, so Kathleen's line died out, so perhaps this is why her portrait came to the market.) Frame:- The painting has been newly framed in a 3 3/8' gilt frame, which suits it very well. It will be supplied wired and ready to hang. Framed Measurements : Height 28 Inches ( 71.1cm ) Width 24 Inches ( 61 cm ) Medium:- Oils on Canvas / Laid to Board Delivery: UK Next Day Tracked & Recorded / Add Cost £50 / Eu £80 / USA £120