6125

Study portrait

Maréchal Louis Hubert Lyautey 1929

Head and shoulders in three-quarter profile to the right, wearing a dark jacket, white shirt and tie

Oil on board, 71.2 x 45.8 cm (28 x 18 in.)

Inscribed lower right: de László / 1928 / P.A. de L. Marechal Lyautey painted by electric light in the evening

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 62: Lyautey [in the artist’s hand: 1928 / 4. Dec. / London / Studio]

Studio Inventory, p. 48 (247): Marechal Lyautey. A Study for the picture now in the Colonial Museum, Paris.  Painted at Thorey, near Nancy.

Private Collection

De Lászlo gave a dinner party and reception in honour of his old friend Maréchal Lyautey at his London home in Swiss Cottage on 7 December 1928.^[1] Guests included Sir Austen and Lady Chamberlain [3795][3797]&[3801], Lord and Lady Minto [6334] &[6343], and Lord and Lady Onslow [6489]&[6492].^[2] Plans to paint the sitter had been developed as early as 1926, and Lyautey sat for the present work in the artist’s studio on 4 December, when he signed the sitter’s book.

De Lászlo travelled to Lyautey’s country house in Thorey in late October 1929 to paint a formal three-quarter length portrait [6118]. The Studio Inventory shows there was some confusion after the artist’s death as to where the present work had been executed as it was recorded as a study for the formal portrait.  

For biographical notes on the sitter see [6118].

PROVENANCE:  

In the possession of the artist on his death

LITERATURE:  

•DLA122-0023 Coupures Le Gaulois, 10 December 1928

KF  2013