4029

Study portrait

Wilhelmina Cassel, previously Mrs Schönbrunn 1909

Head and shoulders, three-quarter profile to the left, wearing a black head-dress and veil and a black ruffle-neck dress

Oil on board, 68.6 x 48.3 cm (27 x 19 in.)

Inscribed lower right: Mrs. Schoenbrunn / László / 1909 

Private Collection

De László and his new wife stayed with the sitter’s brother, Sir Ernest Cassel, at his home in the Swiss Alps for their delayed honeymoon in the summer of 1900.^[1] During their visit the artist painted a study portrait of Sir Ernest [3977], as a pair to the present picture, and a formal portrait of his daughter Maud [4030], for which he also made a preparatory oil sketch [4033]. De László would certainly have painted the present picture and that of her brother in appreciation of their kindness to him.

Wilhelmina (‘Mina’ or ‘Bobbie’) Cassel was born 28 March 1847, the third child and only daughter of Jacob Cassel (1802-1875) and his wife Amalia Rosenheim. The Cassel family were strict orthodox Jews who originated from Cologne and owned a small banking business in that city.  Wilhelmina married Ludwig (Louis) Schönbrunn and they had two children, Anna (born 1868) and Felix (born 1869).  Her husband deserted her and she obtained a divorce in 1874. She reverted to her maiden name at the insistence of her brother and came to England with her two children to manage his household for him.

Sir Ernest Cassel’s first wife Annette had died of consumption in 1881, when their daughter Maud was a year old. Wilhelmina helped to raise her and was affectionately known by the family as ‘Auntie Grannie.’

Wilhelmina died 16 September 1925 and is buried with her brother in Kensal Green Cemetery, London.

PROVENANCE:

Mrs Edward Jenkins, the sitter's niece;

Marjorie, Countess of Brecknock, daughter of Mrs. Jenkins

KF 2012