Stevengraph Portrait of Rear-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford c.1898

Stevengraphs are pictures woven in silk, a process invented by Thomas Stevens ca 1862. However, "Stevengraph" has become a generic term for all silk pictures of a similar type. This example is by Wh Grant & Co. Grant learned the business while working for Stevens and set up his own business in 1882. Beresford was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1898 so this silk portrait dates to around that time. Beresford was a bit of a character- very popular with the public as a hero due to his naval exploits. He was also elected an Mp on several occasions and supported naval issues in the House. However, he also had a scandalous affair and had a running feud with the head of the navy, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir John Fisher, whom he regarded as a social climber of unknown origins!