DLA006-0016 Translation

Budapest, 1901. II. 27

Esteemed Sir,

I think you might be interested in a picture of your sitter dating from 1849, and one in his old age.

But please do not disclose to anyone that I sent you these.

Please accept the expression of my sincere esteem, with which I remain | Your humble servant

István Görgey^[1]

Editorial Notes:

The writer was the younger brother of General Artúr Görgei. In a series of sittings in the early months of 1901 (probably between February and May), de László painted General Görgei six times [5367] [7110] [7111] [5369] [111418] [110815]. For further details, see the principal portrait [5367].

Pd’O

22/03/2006

[1] The 'y' ending of Hungarian names usually indicates nobility. In 1848-49 in the egalitarian spirit of the times, the General changed to spelling his name with an 'i' and used this spelling to the end of his life. His brother, István, the sender of this letter, spelt his name with a ‘y’ (See Görgei contra Kossuth, ed. László Pusztaszeri, Helikon Kiadó, Budapest, 1989, p. 51).