13338

Preparatory work

The Right Honourable James William Lowther 1907

Seated three-quarter length, slightly to the right, full face to the viewer and looking slightly left, wearing robes and wig of the Speaker of the House of Commons, holding papers in his right hand

Oil on board, 77.5 x 52.1 cm (30 ½ x 20 ½ in.)

Sitters’ Book I , opp. f. 79: James W. Lowther / Hutton John Penrith / Dec 18/07

Studio Inventory, p. 33 (171): Mr. Speaker Lowther. Now Viscount Ullswater, A study for the portrait in his possession.

Private Collection

De László was commissioned to paint Lowther in late 1907 for the Grand Jury Room of the Courts in Carlisle [10209]. He travelled to the sitter’s home at Hutton John near Penrith in December where he painted a head and shoulders study portrait in his robes as Speaker of the House of Lords, which the artist gave to the sitter’s wife [12462].

Sittings for the formal portrait didn’t take place until late May 1908 at de László’s London studio, and the present picture is a preparatory study for that portrait. The present portrait remained in the artist’s studio until his death.

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [12462].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death

KF 2020