2133

Mrs Frank Ashton Bellville, née Gladys Hermione Chester-Master 1920

Half-length, slightly to the right and facing the viewer, wearing a First World War Red Cross nursing uniform

with decorations

Oil on canvas, 82.5 x 54 cm (32 ½ x 21 ⅓ in.)

Inscribed lower left: de László / 1920. III. 

Laib L9590(140) / C2(31A) Mrs. Belville

NPG 1917-21 Album, p. 116

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 14: Gladys Bellville. / March 15th 1920

Private Collection

De László presented this portrait to the sitter in recognition of her services as a nurse working with the British Committee of the French Red Cross during the First World War. Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, and Gladys Bellville immediately volunteered as a Red Cross nurse, travelling to France in September. She remained there until May 1915, when she returned to London to serve as Matron of the Darrell Hospital for Officers, at 58 & 59 Queen Anne Street, a post she held until 1919. King George V, Queen Mary and Princess Victoria visited the hospital 12 February 1918, attended by Sir Charles Cust, RN.”^[1] 

This is a rare depiction of a First World War nurse wearing decorations. On the left is the Royal Red Cross, awarded for exceptional services in military nursing. It was founded by Queen Victoria on 23 April 1883, and Florence Nightingale was its first recipient. Next are the British War Medal and the Victory Medal and then, in the colours of the Tricolour, is the French "Médaille d’honneur pour acte de courage et de dévouement." It was awarded for courage and devotion. On her uniform can be seen the initials SBM, which stand for “Secours aux Blessés Militaires.”

Gladys Hermione Catherine Chester-Master was born 4 January 1882 in London, the daughter of Andrew Chester-Master and his wife Ethel. Her father was the son of Colonel Chester-Master, of Knole Park, Bristol, and The Abbey, Cirencester. At the time of her birth they lived at 42 Montpelier Street in London and she was baptised at nearby Holy Trinity, Brompton. On 1 October 1901 she married Frank Ashton Bellville (1870-1937) of Papillon Hall, Lubenham, Leicestershire and Stoughton Grange, Leicester. There were two children of the marriage: Anthony (born 1902) and Rupert (born 1904). The marriage was dissolved 10 June 1910.

After the First World War she opened Sydalg, a shop in George Street, Portman Square, which sold antiques and gowns from Paris. In 1923 she married Henry Gordon Leith (1879-1941), a banker who represented the Speyer Brothers in England between 1900 and 1919.

She died in London, March 1962.

PROVENANCE:

By descent in the family of the sitter;

Private collection

EXHIBITED:

•BADA Art & Antiques Fair, London, Philip de László: 150th Anniversary Exhibition, 2019, no. 8

LITERATURE:

The Tatler, no. 999, 18 August 1920, p. 226, ill.

•Field, Katherine, Philip Alexius de László; 150th Anniversary Exhibition, de Laszlo Archive Trust, 2019, p. 41, ill. pp. 22, 40

KF 2019