6657

Sir Charles Russell, 1st Baronet 1919

Seated three-quarter length wearing a dark suit and waistcoat, wing collar and black bow tie, holding a book in his right hand, his left elbow resting on a side table, his hand to his chin

Oil on canvas, 148.6 x 78.1 cm (58 ½ x 30 ¾ in.)

Inscribed top left: de László. 1919. May 

Laib L10036(140) / C24(34)  

NPG Album 1917-1921, p. 58

Sitters’ Book II, f. 12: Charles Russell 10th May 1919

Private Collection

Sir Charles Russell acted as de László’s solicitor before and during the Naturalisation Revocation Committee hearing and had been recommended by Lord Devonport [4571]. He negotiated de László's release from the nursing home in Ladbroke Gardens to his own country house, Littleworth Corner in Buckinghamshire. The artist could live there with his family on parole, with regular visits from the police to ensure that he kept to the terms of his house arrest. The artist’s health had suffered badly in Brixton and Holloway prisons and this was a great relief. They moved 18 December 1918 just in time for their first Christmas together for two years.

The artist wrote in his diary: “Good Sir Charles we are very grateful that he has let us have his own home. It is a lovely little house, in Queen Anne style, furnished with every convenience, and it could not be more charming than it is. The butler is a nice old fellow, and has been in Sir Charles’s service many years; his wife is a good cook and their daughter acts as kitchen maid. Everything is at our disposal, even silver and linen, and I hope to spend many happy days here and to do some good work.”^[1]

Sir Charles would accept no money for the loan of his house and so the artist painted this portrait in return. He described his sitter as: “an interesting-looking man, Celtic in appearance, about my height, aged 55, with all the rich experience of a popular London lawyer, who knows the ins and outs of the upper classes. He is calm and deep, and certainly has the Irish temperament, with heart and imagination.”^[2] Russell came to stay the weekend of 28 March 1919 and sittings began, which Lucy noted in her diary: “P. began Sir C’s portrait – Morning & afternoon sittings – Sir C. is sitting beside a table with books on it – Excellent beginning. He is a good sitter – In the evg he started reading poems to us from the Golden Treasury. One about a man in prison – but whose mind was peaceful – he thought like Philip’s experience – He read several love [sic] poems – The Sky-lark, Tennyson’s^[3] Daffodils. He read v. well.”^[4] The portrait was completed 11 March: The picture of Sir C. was finished this afternoon – Wonderful eyes, altogether an outstanding success – He is v. pleased.”^[5]

The present portrait appears in an interior study of Lucy de Laszlo [11709] at Littleworth Corner. De László also painted the sitter's daughter Monica in 1920 [6660] as a gift for Sir Charles, and her son Tim in 1922 [6662]. He also presented his host with a landscape of Littleworth Corner in the snow [6677].

The Honourable Charles Russell was born 8 July 1863, the  second son of Charles Russell, Baron Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice of England. He was educated at Beaumont College and was articled to Sir John Hollams, Sons, Coward and Hawksley before being admitted as a Solicitor in 1888. In 1889 he married Adah, eldest daughter of the late William Williams, of Glanmawddach, Dolgelly, North Wales and they had a daughter, Monica (born in 1894).  He founded his own firm Charles Russell and Company, at 37 Norfolk Street in the Strand. The first case which brought him notoriety was as a representative for the defendant Lord Queensberry in the case for libel brought against him by Oscar Wilde in 1895.  He was a County Councillor for London, Bermondsey Division, and Chairman of Collections Committee of The Times Red Cross Fund during the First World War 1914-16. As a Liberal candidate he unsuccessfully contested Hackney, Central Division (Liberal) 1895, and Salford, South Division December 1910.  

His obituary in The Times acknowledged his success as being a result of his thoroughness: “He never spared himself in sifting every case he took up to the last detail; his judgement seemed almost unerring; and his intuitive perception of the minds of juries was often proved right when experienced counsel had differed.”^[6]

Sir Charles died from complications from complications after surgery 28 March 1928 at his home in Dean’s Yard, Westminster. A requiem mass was held for him at Westminster Cathedral two days later.

LITERATURE:

•Rutter, Owen, Portrait of a Painter  pp. 333-36, 341, 343, 344, 356, 360

•DLA162-0287, Pesti Hírlap, 18 August 1925, p. 7

•DLA162-0056, Dr Hegedűs, Ádám, “Weekend László Fülöpéknél” [Weekend at de Lászlós], Pesti Hírlap, 3 September 1929, p. 10

•László, Lucy de, 1919 diary, private collection, 28 March entry, p. 87, 29 March entry, p. 88, 6 April entry, p. 96, 11 May entry, pp. 131-132

KF 2016