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This portrait depicts Oceana Blanche Lega-Weekes at the age of 12, painted in 1878 by Arthur Miles. The young girl appears with a serene and melancholic expression, her large dark eyes conveying depth and introspection. Her wavy brown hair frames her face softly and is carefully styled with volume at the top, reflecting the fashion of the time. She wears an elegant dark dress, contrasted by a delicate white lace collar adorned with a central piece of jewelry, suggesting a refined status and attire typical of Victorian society. A small yellow floral brooch adds a touch of color and warmth to her outfit. The background of the portrait features a natural landscape with a cloudy sky and earthy tones, reinforcing the introspective atmosphere of the piece. Arthur Miles’ brushwork captures not only Oceana Blanche’s physical appearance but also a sense of emotional depth and the delicacy of her age. The ornate gold frame adds an air of prestige and classicism to the painting.
Oceana Blanche Lega-Weekes was born in December 1865 aboard a ship sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from Zanzibar to London. She was the second daughter of Captain Ansel Weekes, an American naval officer, and Clelia Lega, née Fletcher, of English descent. On her mother’s side, she traced her lineage to close associates of Lord Byron in Italy and Greece: William Fletcher, who served as Byron’s valet, and Antonio Lega Zambelli, the poet’s private secretary from 1819 until Byron’s death in 1824. The two families were later united through marriage when Fletcher’s son wed Lega’s daughter.
Her mother, Clelia, was a passionate historian with a particular interest in tracing the ancestry of the Weekes family, while her older sister, Ethel Clelia Lega-Weekes, gained recognition as a historian and author, specializing in medieval Devon. In contrast, Oceana's life unfolded in a very different direction.
As she reached adulthood, Oceana faced significant mental health difficulties, and by 1907, at the age of 41, she suffered a profound psychological crisis. As a result, she was admitted to Croydon Mental Hospital in Warlingham, Surrey, where records describe her experiencing vivid delusions. Her condition was further influenced by intricate religious and aristocratic fantasies, likely shaped by her family’s deep fascination with lineage and ancestry.
Despite continuous care, Oceana never regained her mental well-being and remained in hospital for the rest of her life. She passed away in 1918 at the age of 53. Her story, marked by adversity, provides a compelling insight into the intersection of family heritage, societal pressures, and mental illness in the early 20th century.
Arthur Miles was a British Victorian era portrait and genre painter born in Lambeth (South London) 10 January 1827 and died in Stroud Green (North London) 22 June 1904. He was the son of Thomas Miles, a composer and music teacher, and brother of Leonidas Clint Miles (1839-1898), a landscape painter. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy between 1851-1872, at The British Institution between 1862-1867 and at the Royal Society of British Artists between 1859 and 1880. One of his works is in the National Gallery, London.
Sources: Anne Falloon: 'Byron's Fletcher' and 'Byron's Lega' - Project MUSE (2017); Familysearch; Benezit, Dictionary of Artists; The Dictionary of British Artists 1880-1940; The Dictionary of Victorian Painters; British and Irish Paintings in Public Collections; Kurt of Gerolstein: Arthur Miles, Victorian Artist (2021).
Artist: Arthur Miles (1827-1904).
Signed and dated in the lower right corner.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 36 x 31 cm. / 14 x 12 ¼ in.
Frame: 50 x 45 cm. / 19 ¾ x 17 ¾ in. Gilt wood, very good condition.
Provenance: Sweden.
