2436

Gertrude Keppel, Countess of Albemarle, née Lady Gertrude Lucia Egerton 1909

Seated three-quarter length in a gilt arm chair, turned slightly to the right, full face and looking to the viewer, wearing a black gown with a chiffon and lace stole, a four-strand pearl necklace, gold bracelets, pearl and diamond earrings and holding a fan, all against a dark red background

Oil on canvas, 119.4 x 81.3 cm (47 x 32 in.) 

Inscribed top right: P.A. László / 1909 / XII 

Private Collection

The Earl and Countess of Albemarle visited de László’s studio in Campden Hill, Kensington, in late September 1909 to commission the present portrait. The Earl requested a half-length like that of Mrs John Cator [4039], which he had probably seen in an exhibition of the artist’s portraits at the Dowdeswell Gallery in London the previous summer. The artist suggested a three-quarter length but this was refused on account of the price. The size of the finished picture suggests the artist did not adhere to the request as the diary of the artist’s wife shows the Earl was only charged £300, the price for a half-length portrait.^[1]

The Earl was concerned about his wife’s health at the time of painting: “I think I would warn you that Lady Albemarle is looking very tired now after what she has gone through in the last few weeks with her fathers [sic] death - and you will find that as a sitter she gets vastly fatigued when her expression quite alters. When you see she is tired it would be advisable to leave off for the day.”^[2]

The portrait was selected by de László for inclusion in his important solo exhibition at Agnew’s Gallery, London, in 1911. This exhibition was crucial for establishing his reputation in England after moving to London in 1907. Other portraits included were: the German Emperor, Wilhelm II [4952], comtesse Greffulhe [4247] and Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh, 1st Earl Roberts of Kandahar [6928].

De László painted the sitter’s husband, the 8th Earl of Albemarle [2573], in service dress in 1916 and her son Viscount Bury [2212] in service dress in 1915. He also painted her daughter-in-law Lady Judith Wynn-Carrington in 1911 [2214], and her grand-daughter-in-law Lady Mairi Vane-Tempest-Stewart as a child in 1923 [6158].

Lady Gertrude Lucia Egerton was born 9 January 1861, the only child of 1st Earl Egerton of Tatton (1832-1909) and his wife Mary Sarah Pitt, daughter of William Pitt, 2nd Earl Amherst of Arracan.  She married 4 January 1881, Arnold Allan Cecil (1858-1942), who succeeded as Viscount Bury in 1891 and 8th Earl of Albemarle in 1894. There were five children of the marriage: Walter (born 1882), Arnold (born 1884), Rupert (born 1886), Elizabeth (born 1890) and Albert (born 1898), who was killed at Passchendale in 1917.

The sitter died at home at Quidenham Park, Norfolk, 7 June 1943.

PROVENANCE:

By descent in the family

EXHIBITED:  

•Thos. Agnew & Sons, London, On Behalf of the Artists’ General Benevolent Institution.  Exhibition of Portraits by Philip A. László, M.V.O., May-June, 1911, no. 12

LITERATURE:

•DLA123-0032, letter from Lord Albermarle to de László, 22 September 1909

•László, Lucy de, 1910 diary, private collection, end of diary pages,  p. 114 

KF 2018