DLA019-0062 Transcription
31st. March, 1930.
We have been away on holiday in the South of France after which we went to Barcelona to visit the International Art Exhibition there. During our stay there I received the unexpected news that I had been elected President of The Royal Society of British Artists here, and so was prevented from coming back though Brussels. I was obliged to return home earlier than I had intended, and I am now kept extremely busy with additional work.
I shall be here until the end of April when I intend going to my Paris Studio for a fortnight to work, and then hope to return home through Brussels where I shall arrange to spend a few days, and avail myself of your kind invitation.[1] Many thanks for offering me your hospitality, and it will give me great pleasure to have another opportunity of seeing Their Majesties in Brussels.[2]
It will no doubt interest you to know that I am exhibiting in the Paris Salon this year the portraits of Marechal Lyautey [6118] and the beautiful little Marchesa del Merito [13322].[3]
In regard to the portrait which I had the pleasure to paint of your mother [4833],[4] I should advise you to wait still longer before having it varnished. Two years should elapse before a picture gets it final layer of varnish, and this is a matter which can always be done by a restorer who is employed at the
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Museum in Brussels, and will only take about ten minutes.
I am sorry to hear what you tell me about “la Sarrazine”.[5]
I am exhibiting at the Venice International Art Exhibition this year the portrait of the Prince of Piedmont in the costume of his ancestor, Emanuele Filiberto [7890].[6]
As soon as I have decided to come through Brussels I shall not forget to let you know in good time. Meanwhile, will you kindly convey mes hommages to the Countess Leidekerke,[7] and believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
Editorial Note:
Count Raoul Elie Florent Marie Joseph de Liedekerke (1882-1981), Private Secretary to H.M. the King of the Belgians, and diplomat
SMDL
30/05/2018
[1] See DLA019-0063, letter from Count Raoul de Liedekerke to de László, 14 March 1930
[2] King Albert I of Belgium (1875-1934) [7864]; Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, née Duchess Elisabeth Valerie in Bavaria (1876- 1965) [7870]
[3] Paris Salon, Paris, Salon de la société des artistes français,1930; de László’s portrait of Marshal Lyautey [6118] was exhibited as no. 1250; his portrait of the Marchesa [13322] was no. 1251.
[4] Comtesse Arthur de Liedekerke, née comtesse Félicité de Gontaud-Biron (1852-1941) [4833]
[5] De Liedekerke informed de László that the Comtesse Henri d’Ursel, who de László used to call “the Saracen”, had separated from her husband, see DLA019-0063, op. cit.
[6] Biennale, Venice, XVII Biennale de Venezia, 1930; de László’s portrait of the Prince of Piedmont [7890] was in room 4, no. 7 [to be confirmed]
[7] Comtesse Raoul de Liedekerke, née comtesse Marie de Hemricourt de Grunne (1877-1968) [4837]