5445

Eva Frances Guinness 1919

Seated three-quarter length her head turned and looking to the left, wearing a dark dress, her chin resting on her right hand, a small book in her left, and a nosegay pinned to her dress

Oil on canvas, 90.8 x 70.5 cm (35 ¾ x 27 ¾ in.)

Inscribed verso: My dearest sister in law Eva F. Guinness / painted during 3 days sitting / in Littleworth Corner / Burnham / it belongs after our Death to her Godson / our dear Stefy / 1919 May 3 / P A de Laszlo 

Laib L9228(492) / C11(9)  Eva Guiness [sic]

NPG Album 1917-21, p. 48

Private Collection

Eva Guinness was one of the five elder sisters of the artist’s wife Lucy Guinness. She never married and was a constant support and loyal friend to the de László family, often caring for the children during their parents’ frequent absences abroad. She was one of the few permitted visitors to Littleworth Corner [6677], where de László was under house arrest, awaiting his hearing before the Naturalisation Revocation Committee. No evidence was found against him and he was released after his trial in June 1919 and his British Citizenship confirmed.

Lucy recorded the picture being painted in her diary: “Eva’s glorious picture was finished today. Certainly one of P’s best Creations. At the back he has written that after our deaths, Stephen E’s godchild should have the picture – At this S. is v. delighted – He finds it v. aristocratic - so it is – but the soul in it is wonderful! It was begun on Thursday May 1st / The canvas on which P. had begun me with Violin & Kim = P Henry & one or two others of the boys, besides myself all helped to obliterate me with a knife & sandpaper! She is so un-absorbed in herself & well balanced – I envy her – A soul at rest from itself –dear creature that she is”^[1]

The crystal earrings worn by the sitter for this portrait were inherited by Lucy and are now in the possession of a great-niece.

De László having been virtually deprived of the opportunity to paint or draw whilst interned, the period at Littleworth Corner between December 1918 and June 1919 was one of intense activity for him in painting portraits and studies in oils of his immediate family. The de Lászlós continued to rent the house from Sir Charles Russell for their summer holidays.

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [5434].

PROVENANCE:

The sitter until her death in 1930;

In the artist's possession on his death;

Stephen de Laszlo, his second son;

Paul de Laszlo, his third son;

By descent

LITERATURE:

•Wilson, Derek, Dark and Light: The Story of the Guinness Family, London: Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 1998, between pages 160 and 161, ill.

•László, Lucy de, 1919 diary, private collection, 3 May entry, pp. 123-125

KF 2016