6925

Preparatory work

Frederick Sleigh, Field Marshal Earl Roberts of Kandahar 1911

Standing full length to the right, looking to the left, wearing service dress, his right hand to his Sam Browne belt, his left holding the hilt of his sword

Oil on panel, 41.3 x 26.7 cm (16 ¼ x 10 ½ in.)

Inscribed verso: 1910-11 / Lord Roberts / P.A. de L^[1]

Sitters’ Book I, opp. f. 91: Roberts. / FM “ “ [below the signature of his wife dated 25 October 1911]

Studio Inventory, p. 76 (409): Study of Field Marshal Earl Roberts. Study for large portrait of Earl Roberts,

in the possession of his daughter, Countess Roberts of which large photogravure reproductions were made.^[2]

Private Collection

The formal portrait [6924] for which this is a preparatory sketch, hangs in College Hall at Eton College, Windsor. The sittings took place at Lord and Lady Roberts’s home, Englemere, near Ascot in October 1911. De László also painted the sitter’s wife during his visit [111530] as well as a commission for Viscount Devonport depicting the sitter in blue dress uniform [6931].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [6924].

KF 2012

[1] This inscription was probably added by George Rowcliffe & Co., who were compiling the probate inventory after the artist’s death. They repeat this dating inaccuracy in the entry for the picture in the Probate Book, p.76 (409)

[2] The Probate Book has many such inaccuracies: the picture remained in the possession of Eton College.