DLA011-0032 Transcription

14, BEDFORD SQUARE,

W.C.

Wednesday

Dear Madame Làszlo

I received the enclosed this a.m. from Mrs Alcock a married daughter of Lord St. Levan^[1] to whom I wrote so as you will see it is all right, as I knew it wd. be, about M. Làszlo going to see St Michael’s Mound [sic]^[2] I only hope they will have a

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really fine day & see it to the best advantage. Of course I don’t want the enclosed back, so just tear it up. In case you did not clearly hear through the telephone what I said about Mount Edgcumbe was that if it is possible they ought to stop a night at Plymouth & see Mt. E. which is a beautiful place, nothing particular in the house. [illegible] nice Sir Joshua Reynolds

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but the grounds are lovely. Lord & Lady Mt Edgcumbe are very great & old friends of mine & if there is any likelihood of their (M. Laszlo & M. East^[3]) wishing or being able to see it, I wd. write to Lady M. E. & I know she & Lord M. E. would be delighted that they shd. see everything, but don’t trouble to answer this unless you think there is a chance of their going. My address tomorrow & after will be Shillingstone Grange Blandford.

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I hope when M. Làszlo is at Hutton John^[4] that he will go over to Keswick on Derwent Water Lake & see my eldest sister Mrs Marshall. She is a great friend of Mrs Lowthers.^[5] Derwent Water is well worth seeing.

In haste | Believe me with all good wishes to you for Christmas & the New Year | Yours very sincerely

Blanche Stewart

I expect to be back about the New Year when I look forward to seeing you again.

SMDL

10/11/2017

[1] The Honourable Mrs Nelson Alcock, née the Honourable Evelyn Ethelreda St Aubyn (c. 1867-1934) was the daughter of John St Aubyn, 1st Baron St Levan of St Michael’s Mount (1829-1908)

[2] St Michael’s Mount, a tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall

[3] Sir Alfred Edward East R.A. (1844-1913) [3385], leading English landscape painter, who became a close friend and colleague of de László. They travelled on a painting holiday together to St. Ives in Cornwall in October 1907. It was there that the artist made his first (and indeed only known) etching, a head-and-shoulders portrait of Sir Alfred, which remained in the possession of de László on his death [4986], a fine oil study of moored ships in the harbour [11426] and a beach view [111659].

[4] In December 1907, de László travelled to Hutton John, the home of James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater (1855-1949), situated between Penrith and Keswick. There he painted [12462], a study portrait, which he gave as a gift to Lowther’s wife, probably a token of his appreciation for her hospitality.

[5] Mary Frances Lowther, Viscountess Ullswater, née Beresford-Hope (1854-1944)