7107

Still Life

Red Geraniums, White Primula and Cyclamen Leaves, in a Two-handled Silver Tankard 1918

Still life of red geraniums, white primula and cyclamen leaves in a silver two-handled tankard with decorated rim and feet, on a polished table with a brown curtain or drape behind

Pencil and watercolour on white paper, 52.5 x 35.5cm (20 ¾ x 14 in.)

Inscribed lower right in red ink: To dear Lucy - … / The first of May in Islington / 1918 P.A. de László

Verso signed, inscribed and indistinctly dated: My last painting / during my sadest [sic] days of life / at Islington / 1918 / P A de L.

Private Collection

Lucy, the artist’s wife, brought these flowers to her husband while he was interned in the Islington Institution, Upper Holloway.  He was there from November 1917 until the end of May 1918 and from the inscription it would seem that he was at his lowest ebb at this time. He was soon to be transferred to a nursing home, as his health broke down completely. For a fuller account of this period see [5321].

A few weeks earlier de László painted another watercolour still life [7104] of the same tankard but with roses in it.

For further still life compositions painted at the Islington Institute, see [13308], [13704] and [5229] for that painted at Littleworth Corner, whilst under house arrest there before his release in June 1919.

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Paul de Laszlo, third son of the artist;

By descent in the family

EXHIBITED:  

•Exhibition of Treasures, World Refugee Year (according to label verso, venue unknown) 1960.

SdeL&  SMdeL 2013