Mary Borden and Her Family at Bisham Abbey

"Mary Borden and Her Family at Bisham Abbey" by Sir John Lavery is a sophisticated portrait interior that captures the American novelist Mary Borden seated at a writing desk, surrounded by her children, in the grand drawing room of Bisham Abbey. Borden, known for her courage during World War I, established a field hospital for the French Army, earning the Croix de Guerre, and later married British MP Edward Spears. Lavery's painting, with his reflection subtly included in a mirror, pays homage to classic techniques, while depicting the serene yet vibrant life of the affluent in the 1920s. Bisham Abbey, with its rich history as a former Knights Templar site and royal residence, added a layer of grandeur, though the room’s original paneling has since been removed.