No time to put it all together today, so let’s see if any of you know the common thread between:
This portrait,
This amazing house,
and this portrait?
The only clues I’ll give today are that neither of the women in the portraits ever lived in the house, nor were they related to each other.
THE DOWN EAST DILETTANTE 
>Mistresses of the master of the house?
>No clue, but that house DOES look amazing. I hope the answer includes a lot of photographs of the house!
>Good one, DED.The last image is that of Nancy Mitford as paintedby Mogens Tvede…at least I think that's correct.You clever bloggers with your Friday teases….I ought to know the others, but my brains haveturned to mush.
>Raina, imaginative thinking, but noStefan, you betcha there will be more pics of the houseMr. Worthington, are you sure? Is that your final answer?
>Oh crap. I'm struggling here but I want to know so bad! I know the last one is a picture of nancy. but i'm struggling with the first one? She looks almost marchesa casati? nah, too easy! Please reveal soon…I'll be up ALL night wondering!
>the year?
>Perhaps paintings by William Ranken? But as to the house, dunno.
>You are killing me! One of the reasons for my failure to post for the last three weeks is that I've fallen down the Mitford rabbit hole. So, we know the last portrait is Nancy. I cannot find that house anywhere and the first woman is anyone's guess. I'll be back. Best, Liz
>"I cannot find that house anywhere"DED, good teacher that he is, gives us an excellent clue with "Jennings Entrance Front;" so you bright folks from the region, take it from there. And hurry up with it. Chewing nails here…
>My guess is that the house is the sensational Dark Hollow on Long Island designed by Mons Tvede and Mott Schmidt. Modeled after a Youssopov Palace in Leningrad and gifted by Walter Jennings to his son for a wedding present. Based on the Nancy Mitford clue the thread would be Mons Tvede, but I don't have a guess for the first portrait. Apparently not Isa Jennings who did live in the house.????
>All three of the images contain the suffix — ism in their description. 1. Narcissism2. Imperialism3. Socialism
>Flo, I can't believe I was so stupid that I didn't re-caption the house—although I can believe you were smart enough to pick up on it (I did remember, interestingly, to check the captions on the other two. Go figure.Chip, you're getting warm…warmer…Anonymous—brilliant!
>"I'll take 'Obsessions That Went Wildly Over Budget' for $200, Alex."(word verification is "orgiarch," which seems oddly appropriate)
>Brilliant Toby Worthington!! I shall elaborate…The last photograph is of Nancy Mitford and was painted by Mogens Tvede, who was a landscape architect and painter?The mansion is called Dark Hollow in Lloyd Harbor, New York, the architect was Mott B. Schmidt and MOGENS TVEDE!! I am assuming Schmidt was the architect of the house and Tvede did the gardens because he was a prominent Danish landscape architect. I found very little information on the mansion, maybe Jennings is listed as the first owner, but maybe the mansion was altered by Schmidt for a new owner in the 1930'S? And I think it still stands? Mogens Tvede was born in 1897 so he was 33 or 34 when the mansion was built. The mansion was owned by Oliver B. Jennings. Jennings was linked with Rockefeller and the Standard Oil Company. What puzzles me though is Jennings died in 1893 and the mansion was built in 1930-1931? So there may be two Oliver Jennings?Nancy Mitford (1904-1973) is obviouly a contemporary of Tvede and of the date of Dark Hollow, but how would Oliver Jennings figure in since he died in 1893?Enquiring minds what to now….
>Topaz, close, but no cigarAnonymous: The Oliver Jennings who built Dark Hollow was Oliver Burr Jennings, who was son of Standard Oil tycoon Walter Jennings and his wife Annie Burr. Dark Hollow was immediately adjacent to, and probably part of, the parents very grand estate designed by Carrere & Hastings. Oliver and his wife Isa were fixtures in society in New York, Long Island, Jekyll Island and elsewhere. As to provenance, the house is so COMPLETELY different than most of Schmidt's work that consensus is usually that Tvede was the chief designer of the three projects that they collaborated on that it is more likely that Schmidt was the licensed architect of record, and, as I said, Tvede the chief creative force. Indeed, the house strongly relates to the then contemporary trends in modern Scandinavian neo-classicism.
>So, several people have gotten the last two parts—the first portrait should be easy now….I await…
>Oh……Oliver Gould Jennings probably commission Dark Hollow, he was he grandson of Oliver Burr Jennings, and died in 1936. I could not find info on OG with regard to his wife and children, so good job Chip SF….
>Ok, I'm going to take a WILD stab!! Since there is a link between the last two photos and that being Mogens Tvede….And I have a distinct feeling the identity of the first photograph is going to be a howler, I will venture to guess the first photograph is of Mogens Tvede in drag….Or given my VERIFICATION word TRATRI or tranny for transvestite?OK, I'm already howling!!
>Nope. But I admire the thought!
>Professor DED, I am absolutely clueless but very much enjoying the wonderful sense of competition, great knowledge and humor of the other commenters.And yes, another thumbs up, on your piece in NYSD. You seem to be able to find a Maine thread in everything, but G&S, you knew? YOU! BTW while I loved your story, I cast my vote with you on the actual G&S music. Personally, I'd rather hear cats in heat.My word verification: indablu…another musical form I enjoy.
>Down East -Although I am at a loss on the first portrait I don't want that to stop me from guessing – so …after scouring the internet for some clues…how about Princess Radziwell, wife of Mogens Tvede? Not really likely I know since he was her third husband and she was somewaht older than him, but it's a stab in the hopes that you will finally tell all.
>I've been obsessed with this one, so it is not Tvede (whew!!). And speaking of obsessed and drag does everyone know there is going to be a mini series called Mildred Pierce on HBO? What brought that up? I digress… I found very little on Mogens Tvede, so the research has been quite impressive. Looking forward to DED's, as always, brilliant answer. Loved the reference scandinavian neo-classism. I visted the public library in Stockhom designed by Gunnar Asplund. Truly one of the most beautiful and over looked interiors of this world.Thanks for the fun DED!!squedi / squidy / fishy? Hmmm…
>Anonymous, naturally I'm curious to see the remake of Mildred Pierce—a brave thing to do, but HBO usually pulls it off.It is hard to find anything about Mogens Tvede, but what I did find I liked–and the new post with the answers has just gone up.Cheers to all of you who played—your responses have been fun.
>I think the first drawing might be one of those used against Gloria Vanderbilt's mother in the custody trial.
>What an idiotic comment I just made. Some how I missed the explantion of the three photographs. Although I would like to see those etchings.
>Hahahah, Roger Walker, we'd all like to see those etchings