Jean Forbes-Robertson Country Life Magazine Portrait September 7 1929

Jean Forbes-Robertson, Mrs James Hamilton Country Life Magazine Portrait, Frontispiece, September 7 1929. LXVI No. 1703

The featured frontispiece this week is a portrait of Mrs. James Hamilton, formerly Miss Jean Forbes-Robertson, whose marriage took place on August 31st.

• Identity: Jean Forbes-Robertson (1905–1962), a celebrated English stage actress known for her distinctive presence and versatility.
• Stage Career: She was a prominent Shakespearean actress and became widely admired for her long-running portrayal of Peter Pan in London between 1927 and 1935.
• Marriage: She married James “Hamish” Hamilton in 1929. He was an Olympic rower and later the founder of the renowned Hamish Hamilton publishing house. The marriage ended in divorce in 1933.
• Family Background: She was the daughter of Sir Johnston Forbes-Robertson, a distinguished Shakespearean actor-manager, and Lady Forbes-Robertson (Gertrude Elliott), also a noted actress.
• Later Life: She later married actor and director André van Gyseghem, with whom she had a daughter, Joanna Van Gyseghem, who became a well-known actress.
• Legacy: Remembered for her unique stage presence and enduring contribution to British theatre.

This is an authentic original page from Country Life magazine, part of the iconic series often affectionately referred to as the “Girls in Pearls” portraits — elegant society images that captured a distinctive era of British publishing and portraiture.

Size: Approximately 13.75 x 9 inches (35 x 23 cm)

Condition: Very good for its age. As with all vintage magazine pages, light signs of handling or minor age-related blemishes may be present. Please review the large photo carefully for full condition details.

This original Country Life Magazine frontispiece portrait forms part of The Old Map Shop’s curated archive of society portraits published between 1897 and 2026.