DLA018-0054 Transcription (translated where indicated)

Sanatorium

Bad-Hall

[illegible]

Mein lieber guter freund!^[1]

Anne Marie and Countess Therese informe [sic] me, that they had two sitting for your great picture – and they were delighted!^[2]

I hope that – [the remainder of the paragraph in German in the original] at closer inspection you will not be disappointed by the loveliness of Anne Marie and you will take no exception to the formation of her nose in the picture. If necessary this could be slightly altered.

My health should be better! I lost to [sic] much weight and I look more like an old jockey than like a respectable general.^[3] My doctor and myself are disappointed – but I am not pessimistich and hope for the best –

I am leaving on the 4th inst. for Vienna to have a thorough examination and

[Page 2]

consultation – to know finaly [sic] what I have to do – and to expect.

I hope will enjoy a good holiday – amongst your dear family! –

[the following sentence in German in the original] I kiss the hand of your revered wife.

With my best wishes and fond greeting to you and dear Mrs de Laszlo | I remain my dear old friend, | Yours affectionately

old Slatin.

Editorial Note:

Sir Rudolf Carl von Slatin, also known as ‘Slatin Pasha’ (1857-1932); for biographical notes, see [7178].

SMDL (transcription)

19/05/2018

LV (translation)

23/11/2021

[1] My dear good friend

[2] De László had planned to paint a picture for his own pleasure on a subject in connection with the First World War. He wished to depict: “not men fighting, but the still nobler part of suffering women at home; women of all classes in a chapel surrounding the burning candles for the fallen souls” (Rutter, pp. 372-373). The painting was never started, although many studies and sketches remained in the artist’s studio on his death. De László made four studies of Sir Rudolph’s daughter, Baroness Anne Marie von Slatin (1916-2007), for the picture: a full-length study of the Baroness kneeling in a church interior [4298], and three others that included both her and her companion, Countess Thérèse Eltz (1902-1993), who was also persuaded to pose [2974] [7006] & [7944].

[3] Sir Rudolph von Slatin died on 4 October 1932.