4741

Preparatory work

Viscountess Grimston, née Lady Violet Constance Maitland Brabazon 1920

Head-and-shoulders to the left, in three-quarter profile to the right, wearing a classical gold diadem in her hair

Oil on board, 69.9 x 47.7cm (27 ½ x 18 ¾ in.)^[1]

Inscribed lower right: Study - of the Countess / of Verulam / 1920 / de László

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 16: Violet Grimston Aug 7. 1920

Studio Inventory, p. 47 (241): The Countess of Verulam. See note on 240.

Gorhambury Estates Company

Although the present portrait is dated 1920 – a year after de László painted the classical painting of Lady Violet Grimston and her son Jim [4734] – it is very likely to be one of the preliminary studies the sitter mentions in her diary: “The first sittings for the portrait of Jim and me in classic dress were in November 1919 when he did two preliminary sketches in oils giving a rough idea of pose and colour.” ^[2]

The inscription in the artist’s hand on the lower part of the painting was written in black ink and not paint, which suggests that this was added at a later date. De László would periodically go through his undated and/or unsigned works in his studio and sign them to mark his authorship and approval of the work. Occasionally he was mistaken with the dates during such signing sessions.

LITERATURE:         

•Grimston, Violet, Viscountess, Notes on my sittings to Mr de László, The Gorhambury Collection Archives, November-December 1919 

CC 2008