9989

Study portrait

Lisa Minghetti 1935

Head and shoulders slightly to the right, full face and looking to the viewer, wearing a black chiffon veil over her hair and shoulders, the neckline of her dress just indicated

Oil on board, 72.4 x 48.3 cm (28 ½ x 19 in.)

Inscribed lower right: To the artist Minghetti / from de László / 1935 V   

Laib L18997(363) / C17(9A) Violinist Minguette [sic]

NPG 1935 Album, p. 25b

Sitters’ Book II, f. 81: Lisa Minghetti April 17th, 35

Private Collection

De László first painted Lisa Minghetti in 1933 [6330]. In 1935 he made two further portraits of her, one of which, showing her leaning over a golden globe [9193] remained in the artist’s possession; the present one, as the inscription indicates, the artist gave to the sitter.

A telegram and a letter from the sitter to de László are in the de László archive. The telegram, dated 28 April 1935, offers him congratulations for a portrait (she signed his Sitters’ Book on 17 April). The present portrait is clearly dated 1935/V. Lisa had tea with the artist and his wife 16 April and it was decided that she would return the next day to be painted. de László’s diary suggests that it was completed in one sitting and that the sitter then played a trio with Lucy and Mrs Tuffnel on cello.^[1] 

A letter, dated 9 October 1935, thanks the artist profusely for the portrait.^[2] She excuses her delay in writing by explaining she has been in bed with a bad cold for a few days, not a few months.

For biographical notes on the sitter see [6330]. 

LITERATURE:          

•DLA022-0418, telegram from Lisa Minghetti to de László, 28 April 1935

•DLA022-0419, letter from Lisa Minghetti to de László, 9 October 1935

•László, Philip de, 1935 diary, private collection, 16 April entry, p. 91; 17 April entry, p. 91; 18 April entry, p. 92

CWS 2008