4650

REJECTED

Lady Davson, née Margot Glyn 1923

Half length to the left, head turned to the right and looking back at the viewer, a red

and black brocade stole draped around her

Oil on canvas, 72.4 x 59.7 cm (28 ½ x 23 ½ in.)

Sitters’ Book II, f. 37: Margot Davson July 26 1923

Studio Inventory, p. 99 (543): Lady Davson. Acquired from the Trustees after the death of the artist. Re-stretched 1938

Private Collection

According to the sitter’s family, this portrait was completed in three hours, demonstrating de László’s facility in capturing an excellent likeness very quickly. However it is most likely that the composition did not please either the sitter or the artist as the work remained in his studio until his death. Another portrait [4643] was completed the next year. The present picture is noted in the Studio Inventory as having been restretched in 1938 before being acquired by the sitter from the Trustees of de László’s estate.

Elinor Glyn commissioned this portrait of her elder daughter. Elinor had already been painted herself twice in 1914 [5361] [5359] and would be again in 1927 [5363]. De László painted the sitter’s grandmother, Mrs. Kennedy, in 1915 [5865] and her aunt Lady Duff-Gordon in 1913 [13201] and her sister Juliet [7748] [7744].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [4643].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Acquired by the sitter from the Trustees of the artist’s estate

KF 2013