4539

Preparatory study

Lady Alastair Graham, née Lady Meriel Olivia Bathurst 1920

Half-length slightly to the right, head turned and looking to the left, wearing a pale blue dress, with a blue stole just indicated

Oil on board, 73.7 x 53.4 cm (29 x 21 in.)

Inscribed lower right: Study / 1920 march / P.A. de L. 

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 14: Meriel Graham March 10. 1920.

Private Collection

De László was commissioned to paint the sitter’s brother, Lord Apsley [2023], as a gift from the staff at the Morning Post, and the artist instead gave the portrait as a gift. Countess Bathurst asked if he might paint their daughter as well and accept the £300 originally intended for Lord Apsley’s portrait. The present picture is a preparatory study for the finished picture [4536], which de László gave to Lady Alastair Graham as a momento of the time they spent together in his studio. Sittings began 4 March and she enquired a few days before: “I am just wondering about ordering a carriage on Thursday & Friday. I shall get one to take me to your studio at 10:15 but when shall it fetch me? Do you allow me a ‘luncheon interval’ or do I bring sandwiches and eat them in the shadow of Violet Grimston’s lovely picture [4734]”^[1]   

This portrait was hung at the sitter’s home at Easton Park, near Wickham Market: “Your delightful 1st sketch has arrived safely. We are so much honoured by having something done by you for our own.”^[2] He painted her again in 1925 [4535], in a style derived from Italian Quattrocento portraiture.

De László painted ten portraits of the Bathurst family between 1919 and 1936: Earl Bathurst [3541], Countess Bathurst [3544], their son Lord Apsley [2023] and daughter-in-law [3534][3537], and their two sons [3539]. He also painted the wife of the Earl’s youngest son, Helen, née Heathcoat-Amory [111090].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [4536].

PROVENANCE:

Lady Alastair Graham;

By descent

LITERATURE:

•DLA069-0074, letter from Lady Alastair Graham to de László, 1 March 1920

•DLA045-0011, letter from Lady Alastair Graham to de László, 26 April 1920

KF 2020