6617

Preparatory drawing

Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, née Princess Alice of Battenberg 1907

Head only, facing to the viewer, wearing a pearl drop ear-ring

Graphite heightened with white on grey paper, 48.9 x 33.4 cm (19 ¼ x 13 ⅛ in.)

Inscribed lower right: P.A. László / 1907

Private Collection

In July 1907 de László was invited to paint Princess Alice at Schloss Heiligenberg, near Darmstadt, the home of the sitter’s grandfather Prince Alexander of Hesse. This followed his visit in April to paint her uncle Grand Duke Ernest of Hesse [5937] and his wife Grand Duchess Eleonore [5933] and the sitter’s sister Princess Louise [3481].

This drawing was made in preparation for a full-length formal portrait which remains in a private collection [6615]. De László painted two study portraits of Princess Alice in 1922 [6619] [6620]. The first remained in the artist’s studio until his death and is still in the collection of a descendant of the artist.

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [6615].

PROVENANCE:

Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark;

Lord Louis Mountbatten, brother of the sitter:

KF 2017