DLA115-0013 Transcription

Dundee Public Libraries

Museums and Fine Art Galleries

THE CENTRAL LIBRARY

ALBERT INSTITUTE

A. S. WEBSTER

Chief Librarian

Philip de Laszlo de Lombos, Esq.,

3, Fitzjohn’s Ave,

London, N.W.3.

Dundee, 5th May 1931

Dear Mr. de Laszlo,

I am sending off the “Horses” [11636] tonight, per passenger train, and trust it reaches you safely.^[1] I had it insured in transit from Dundee to your house, so you might include it in your insurance to Paris.

Our Galleries are looking exceedingly well just now, especially the wall with your portraits of Sir William High [5637], Mrs. Stevenson [10031], and Mr. and Mrs. John Robertson [4149][6805].

In addition, we have for one month, the 16 sketch portraits of the late lamented Sir James Guthrie,^[2] done for the large picture “Statesmen of the War”, now in the National Gallery.^[3] These sketches, which are all very fine, were presented to the Scottish National Gallery by two cousins of the late Sir James. I am delighted to inform you that they have been an immense attraction, and I am very proud that I managed to get them.

I learn from Mr. Aiken’s^[4] note that you and Mrs. de Laszlo are very well. I am glad to hear this.

With kindest regards, | I am, | Yours faithfully,

A.S.Webster

Chief Librarian.

Editorial Note:

For de László’s reply, see DLA115-0012, letter from de László to A. S. Webster, 11 May 1931

SMDL

15/10/2023

[1] See related archive item DLA115-0014, telegram from A. S. Webster [assumed] to de László, 5 May 1931

[2] Sir James Guthrie (1859-1930), Scottish artist

[3] Statesmen of World War I, oil on canvas, 1924-1930 [NPG 2463], depicts seventeen Dominion and British civilian leaders who held office at the outbreak and end of World War 1: Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (1848-1930) [2707]; George Nicoll Barnes (1859-1940); Sir Robert Laird Borden (1854-1937); Louis Botha (1862-1919); Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965); Sir Joseph Cook (1860-1947); Ganga Singh, Maharaja of Bikaner (1880-1943); Sir Eric Campbell Geddes (1875-1937); Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon (1862-1933); William Morris Hughes (1864-1952); Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (1850-1916); Andrew Bonar Law (1858-1923); David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George [6076]; William Ferguson Massey (1856-1925); Alfred Milner, Viscount Milner (1854-1925); Edward Patrick Morris, 1st Baron Morris (1859-1935); Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852-1928). Guthrie made oil studies of sixteen of the seventeen figures from life. Guthrie’s cousins, the Gardiners, acquired the studies, and, after the artist’s death in September 1930, the sketches toured Kirkcady, Dundee, Stirling, Aberdeen and Glasgow.

[4] William Aiken (1880-1950) [110774], Chamberlain of the City of Dundee