DLA073-0019 Transcription
WOODREDON,
WALTHAM ABBEY,
ESSEX.
22nd Dec. 1923
Dear Mr de Lazlo [sic]
I ordered a frame for Laib’s[1] reproduction of your portrait of me [5990] – similar to the one my wife[2] sent you – some time ago, but it had not arrived when I left the Admiralty today but I hope to send it early next week.[3] You said you would like to have
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one.
Everyone who has seen my portrait is full of admiration of it. It certainly is a wonderful picture – as to that there are no two opinions – and I am more than grateful and so is my wife.
I had hoped to send you some memento of our sittings for Christmas but I have not yet found what I want – tho’ I am on the track of something that I think you would like in your studio.[4]
With kindest remembrance from us both to you, Mrs de Lazlo[5] [sic] and your sons and every good wish for
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Christmas and 1924.
Believe me
Yours very sincerely
Roger Keyes
Editorial Note:
Admiral Sir Roger John Brownlow Keyes, 1st Baron Keyes (1872–1945); for biographical notes, see [5990].
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22/05/2006
[1] Paul Ferdinand Anton Laib (1869–1958) [5994]
[2] Lady Keyes, née Eva Mary Salvin Bowlby (1882–1973) [5980]
[3] De László painted Lord Keyes twice in 1923, see [5983] and [5990].
[4] It is possible that the “memento” was a Dutch silver boat mentioned in a letter from de László’s secretary to the secretary of the Burlington Fine Arts Club: “Mr. de Laszlo, in reply to your invitation to exhibit at your forthcoming exhibition of Marine Art at the Burlington Fine Arts Club, wishes me to let you know that he possesses a Dutch Silver Boat about a foot long, with various movable figures on it. It was made in the time of De Ruyter and in honour of him … It is certainly quite an historic piece and was a present to Mr. de Laszlo from Admiral, Sir Roger Keyes”, see DLA105-0013, letter from de László’s secretary to J. R. Bailey, 7 January 1929.
[5] Mrs Philip de László, née Lucy Madeleine Guinness (1870–1950) [11474]