Man seeks ‘never before seen’ angle of aristocrat who was born into slavery

A history enthusiast is searching for an artist to draw a “never before seen” angle of a British gentlewoman who was born into slavery. Etienne Daly, who lives in Brighton, has been researching Dido Elizabeth Belle for 12 years and wants to see what she would look like face-on. Dido Elizabeth Belle holds historical significance as a mixed-race woman raised as a free gentlewoman in 18th-century Britain, an almost unheard of status for someone of African descent.

She was born to an enslaved African mother and a British naval officer. She was brought up by her great-uncle, Lord Mansfield, the Lord Chief Justice, at Kenwood House. Her presence in this household, alongside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray, highlighted the complexities of race and class at the time.



A 1778 portrait of Dido and Elizabeth highlighted her position, challenging racial stereotypes. Her life intersected with Mansfield’s landmark rulings, like the Somerset case (1772), which advanced anti-slavery sentiment. The painting was done by the British artist David Martin and it currently hangs in Scone Palace, Scotland.

According to historians at Scone Palace, Dido was entrusted by her father John Lindsay to the childless Mansfields. The family took care of her alongside their other great-niece, Elizabeth Murray, daughter of the future 2nd Earl whose wife had died young. The portrait of Dido and Elizabeth was believed until recently to have been painted by Johann Zoffany.

But during a visit by the BBC’s Fake or Fortune in 2018 it was discovered to be by the young Scot Martin, who was a pupil of Alan Ramsay. It is the only official painting of Dido there is, and it shows her face at a three-quarter degree angle. Marlborough House in Old Steine (Image: Google Maps) Read more: Miniature railway calls for fencing after child tries to jump on moving train Dido is linked to Brighton through Lady Anne Murray, who was the sister to the 2nd Earl of Mansfield, she purchased Marlborough House, a mansion in Old Steine in 1801.

After his 12 years of research, Etienne is looking to make his dream a reality. He said: “It’s a never seen before angle of Dido and I’m surprised that no one has properly attempted it. “if this comes to fruition, is to send that to Lady Mansfield who I'm in fairly constant contact with.

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