# Clara Van Siever — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide

> Clara Van Siever in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Miss Van Siever, Clara, Miss Clara Van Siever, Miss Van

**First appearance:** 0036-xxxvii-hook-court

## Snapshot

A wealthy, clear-eyed young woman caught between her domineering mother's schemes and her own reluctant attraction to the charming painter Conway Dalrymple.

## Who they are

Clara Van Siever possesses both money and independence of mind, qualities her mother Mrs. Van Siever regards as inconvenient obstacles to a profitable marriage with the oily Mr. Musselboro. Pressured relentlessly at home, Clara finds herself drawn into the Broughton circle, where Dalrymple's attentions offer both escape and danger. Her struggle to choose her own path—against her mother's threats and her own uncertainty—makes her a quiet but vital counterpoint to the novel's other embattled women.

## Relationships

### [Conway Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/conway_dalrymple)

_romantic_

Clara Van Siever and Conway Dalrymple share a flirtatious and ultimately romantic relationship, complicated by her mother's ambitions.

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_social_

Clara Van Siever is a social acquaintance of Mrs. Proudie, often caught in her schemes regarding the portrait.

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_social_

Clara Van Siever is a social acquaintance of Mrs. Proudie, often caught in her schemes regarding the portrait.

### [Conway Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/conway_dalrymple)

_romantic_

Clara Van Siever and Conway Dalrymple share a flirtatious and ultimately romantic relationship, complicated by her mother's ambitions.

### [Conway Dalrymple](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/conway_dalrymple)

_romantic_

Clara Van Siever and Conway Dalrymple share a flirtatious and ultimately romantic relationship, complicated by her mother's ambitions.

### [Mrs. Proudie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mrs_proudie)

_social_

Clara Van Siever is a social acquaintance of Mrs. Proudie, often caught in her schemes regarding the portrait.

## In the story

### [Mrs. Dobbs Broughton's Dinner-Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxiv-mrs-dobbs-broughton-s-dinner-party)

A handsome young woman with a large fortune, described as hard and repelling; she sits between Crosbie and Dalrymple at dinner.

### [Miss Madalina Demolines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxv-miss-madalina-demolines)

Mentioned as the subject of Dalrymple's planned Jael painting; Miss Demolines describes her as false, covetous, and malicious.

### [The Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxvi-the-picture)

Visits Mrs. Broughton; objects to being painted as Jael, citing her mother's disapproval and her own reluctance.

### [Jael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxviii-jael)

Agrees to sit as Jael for the painting, openly deceives her mother about it, and shows independence and a temper.

### [A New Flirtation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxix-a-new-flirtation)

Sitting for Dalrymple's painting of Jael, causing Miss Demolines's concern.

### [Mrs. Dobbs Broughton Piles Her Fagots](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/li-mrs-dobbs-broughton-piles-her-fagots)

Sits for her portrait, the object of Dalrymple's growing affection and Mrs. Broughton's conflicted emotions.

### [The End of Jael and Sisera](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lx-the-end-of-jael-and-sisera)

Present during the confrontation, she silently supports Dalrymple's act of destroying the painting, feeling that she truly loves him.

### [The Tragedy in Hook Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxiv-the-tragedy-in-hook-court)

Goes to comfort Mrs. Broughton after learning of the tragedy.

### [Miss Van Siever Makes Her Choice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxv-miss-van-siever-makes-her-choice)

Accepts Conway Dalrymple's marriage proposal, defying her mother's wish for her to marry Mr. Musselboro.

### [Madalina's Heart Is Bleeding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxv-madalina-s-heart-is-bleeding)

Reported to be marrying Augustus Musselboro.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/clara_van_siever
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters