8780

Preparatory work

Antoine XII-Armand, duc de Guiche 1902

Seated almost full-length, shoulders to the left in contrapposto, looking to the right, wearing riding clothes, his right arm stretched out, his left hand resting on his leg, his ankles crossed

Red chalk on ivory paper, 49.5 x 34 cm (19 ½ x 13 ⅜ in.)

Sitters’ Book  I, opp. f. 60: Armand de Gramont, duc de Guiche

Private Collection

This fine full-length portrait drawing counts amongst the preparatory works de László made for the two large family group portraits the sitter’s father, Antoine XI-Agénor, 11th duc de Gramont, commissioned de László to paint in 1902, see [8752]. Unfortunately, only a photograph of the first group portrait remains, and no reproduction of the second painting in which the present sitter was included has come to light. However, it is apparent from two other preparatory works, in oil [7206] and in pencil [6544], that Armand de Gramont was seated almost full-length on the bench on which his mother Marguerite-Alexandrine von Rothschild [6650], was also seated, while his sister, Corisande de Noailles [6625], was standing full-length to the right.

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [11801].

LITERATURE

•Hart-Davis, Duff, in collaboration with Caroline Corbeau-Parsons, De László: His Life and Art, Yale University Press, 2010, pp. 80-81

PROVENANCE:         

By descent through the family

CC 2008