3639

Elizabeth Esther Buchanan 1924

Head-and-shoulders to the right, head turned to the left and looking to the viewer

Pencil and charcoal on grey/white paper, 49.6 x 35.6 cm (19 ½ x 14 in.)

Inscribed lower right:  In memory of the day / 6th Feb. 1924 / from / P.A. de László   

Private Collection

The artist’s correspondence suggests that the present drawing was executed during the sittings for a double-portrait of Elizabeth Buchanan and her sister Marjory [3637], which took place from October 1923 until January 1924. It is very likely that de László offered it to her as a wedding present, as the ceremony was due to take place on 6 February 1924. The sitter’s mother wrote: “The drawing of Betty which you have so kindly given her is delightful. You have exactly caught her mischievous expression and it will be a very nice memento for her of a very happy event in her life.”^[1]

Elizabeth Esther ‘Betty’ Buchanan, was born on 7 July 1899 at the family home in Deroran, Stirling, the daughter of Charles A. Buchanan and Mary Catherine Kay.  She had an older brother, Edmund (born 1893) and an older sister, Marjory (born 1895). Elizabeth was educated at Northlands School in Virginia Water, Surrey, where her German headmistress Sophie Weisse [2097] inspired her with a love of music.

In February 1924 she married Jack Watson of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlands, a fellow officer from the same regiment in which her brother was an officer. Lt. Col. Watson was wounded in the Great War but survived and was awarded the Military Cross. He spent all his working life as an officer, except for the years 1936-1938 when he was briefly a stockbroker. They had three children, Sybil Marjory (born 1926), who only lived until she was four; Gillian Mary (born 1928); and John David (born 1932).  The sitter’s interests included gardening and music; she much enjoyed going to concerts. She was a witty person, a good conversationalist and loved parties.  She spent the war years living in Haslemere, Surrey and joined the W.V.S. as a driver and as a billeting officer placing London school children out of the city. At one time she had seven youngsters to look after in her own home. She kept West Highland terriers and spaniels. Mrs Watson moved to a house on the banks of the River Teith in Callander, Perthshire after her husband’s death in 1955. She died on 18 February, 1984 at her daughter Gillian’s home, in Warwickshire.

LITERATURE:        

•DLA055-0022, letter from Mrs Charles Buchanan to de László, 20 January 1924

CC 2008