It was about this time that those who knew and loved Dorothea Beale began to realise that some day the great Head would be removed and that there was no worthy memorial of her: no portrait which would remind her “children” of their school mother, and would speak to future generations of the Foundress to whom they owed so much.
The Council first approached her through their chairman, Sir Samuel Johnson. She suggested in reply that Miss Stirling, who had a modelling class at the College, should model her portrait in clay or terra-cotta.
After this the Council’s request took the form of a resolution. To this Dorothea Beale replied that she had a very great objection to a portrait of herself being hung up during her life: that it would use up funds needed for improvements in the College, and that it would give people an exaggerated idea of the work that she had been allowed to do for the College.
Again she suggested that Miss Stirling should make a model in clay, which could be executed in stone by Mr. Martyn.
The final appeal was made by the Guild meeting of 1902, after which Dorothea Beale surrendered, and allowed her portrait to be painted by Mr. J. J. Shannon. In her reply to those who were so desirous of having a worthy memorial of their revered and loved Principal, she said:—
“The unbiassed artist represents his subject as she is, not as she seems to be to those who are good enough to overlook her defects and love her in spite of them.”
Whilst the Principal was sitting for Mr. Shannon, various friends read aloud to her. “Lorna Doone” was one of the books. It “amused the painter,” Dorothea Beale said.
The portrait, a very attractive one, was presented by the Duchess of Bedford on November 8, 1904. In Dorothea’s Beale’s reply, she said that she looked on the desire for a portrait as one not for a person but for a Principal, a representative who would live on long after the person had passed away. The illuminated book containing the names of the donors she looked upon as a personal gift.
The College Jubilee celebrations were held in May, 1905. Lord Londonderry opened a large new wing for science teaching, and well-known people spoke at this gathering, which was the only public Commemoration the college had had.