DLA123-0088 Transcription

1, GLOUCESTER SQUARE,

HYDE PARK, W.2.

Dec 11th 1930

Dear Mr de Laszlo

The portrait [2772] has arrived & gives us great pleasure. Those of my family who have seen it agree that it is characteristic & pleasing & this is my opinion.

You must bring Mrs de Laszlo to see it in its setting some time my wife^[1] will suggest a suitable date for you.

Meanwhile I enclose my cheque for £210.^[2]

[Page 2]

I think you said that you would wish to exhibit it at some future time.^[3] If you do you will of course let me know when you want it & it will be at your disposal.

Yours very sincerely

Stanley of Alderley

[in another hand] STANLEY OF ALDERLEY

Editorial Note:

Arthur Lyulph, 5th Baron Stanley of Alderley, 5th Baron Sheffield and 4th Baron Eddisbury (1875-1931), British politician; Governor of Victoria from 1914 to 1920; for biographical notes, see [2772].

29/11/2018

[1] Baroness Stanley of Alderley, née Margaret Evelyn Evans Gordon (1875-1964)

[2] At this stage in de László’s career, he would normally have charged 400 guineas for a study portrait in the same format as [2772]. The reduced fee bears testimony to the fact that the artist sustained a special relationship with the Stanleys – de László was a good friend of 4th Baron Stanley (known as Lord Sheffield), whose portrait he painted twice [12808][2065]; he painted Lady Stanley, wife of 4th Baron Stanley on four occasions: [2767][2770][3870][2768].

[3] There is no indication that this portrait was ever exhibited.