http://ncartmuseum.org/untitled/2008/12/two-from-the-vault/ The NCMA Blog Wed, 15 May 2013 21:18:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://ncartmuseum.org/untitled/2008/12/two-from-the-vault/#comment-12112 John Coffey Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:17:42 +0000 http://ncartmuseum.org/untitled/?p=215#comment-12112 I have always had a soft spot in my heart for dear Udney Maria. She never knew her naval hero father, but a grateful North Carolina made sure that the girl was brought up genteelly with funds provided by the public treasury. Thomas Sully's adoring portrait, painted when the girl was fifteen, testifies to Udney Maria's beauty and charm which would soon capture the heart of a Danish aristocrat. I love the story of the origins of the Blakely silver: in honor of her father's gallantry, the State of North Carolina wished to present the Udney Maria with a ceremonial sword. However, her sensible mother convinced the State that a coffee and tea service was more appropriate. And you have to marvel at the equanimity of the second Baroness von Bretton in acquiescing to the naming of her first child for her deceased predecessor. Udney Maria must have been an extraordinary young woman. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for dear Udney Maria. She never knew her naval hero father, but a grateful North Carolina made sure that the girl was brought up genteelly with funds provided by the public treasury. Thomas Sully’s adoring portrait, painted when the girl was fifteen, testifies to Udney Maria’s beauty and charm which would soon capture the heart of a Danish aristocrat. I love the story of the origins of the Blakely silver: in honor of her father’s gallantry, the State of North Carolina wished to present the Udney Maria with a ceremonial sword. However, her sensible mother convinced the State that a coffee and tea service was more appropriate. And you have to marvel at the equanimity of the second Baroness von Bretton in acquiescing to the naming of her first child for her deceased predecessor. Udney Maria must have been an extraordinary young woman.

]]> http://ncartmuseum.org/untitled/2008/12/two-from-the-vault/#comment-10780 Helen Rowe Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:18:44 +0000 http://ncartmuseum.org/untitled/?p=215#comment-10780 Udney Maria Blakely is a sort of distant relative of my husband's. She married Joseph von Bretton, but she then died in childbirth or shortly afterwards the year after the marriage. Her baby daughter also died. However, some years later Joseph remarried, and he named his first born after his first wife (Udney Maria Blakely von Bretton). In researching the family history I had come across her story, and was therefore quite amazed to think that her portrait and the tea/coffee set have survived. Are they on show to the public? Is there any way of getting reproductions (e.g. postcard sized photos)? Udney Maria Blakely is a sort of distant relative of my husband’s. She married Joseph von Bretton, but she then died in childbirth or shortly afterwards the year after the marriage. Her baby daughter also died. However, some years later Joseph remarried, and he named his first born after his first wife (Udney Maria Blakely von Bretton). In researching the family history I had come across her story, and was therefore quite amazed to think that her portrait and the tea/coffee set have survived. Are they on show to the public? Is there any way of getting reproductions (e.g. postcard sized photos)?

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