UNTRACED

Study portrait

Ambrose Swasey 1931

Oil [support and dimensions unknown]

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 70: Ambrose Swasey October 27th 1931 / Cleveland Ohio

De László recorded in his diary that he made a sketch of the sitter while he was at work on a finished portrait of him commissioned by the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce [7227]. It was completed in just one sitting on 5 November.^[1]

The artist saw the picture again 19 December: “I drove with firestone [110650] to Swasey’s Home whos[e] room was crowded with flowers – etc – he was pleased that I came – gave him my large book of my works – His letters from the great of congratulation were very numerous – I saw my sketch there, I painted in N.Y. of him during one sitting.”^[2]

LITERATURE:

•László, Philip de, 1931 diary, private collection, 31 October entry, p. 308; 5 November entry, p. 313; 19 December entry, p. 357

KF 2016

[1] László, Philip de, 1931 diary, op cit., 5 November entry

[2] Ibid. 19 December entry, the book referred to his Oakley Williams’ Selections from The Work of P.A. de László, published in 1921 in a limited edition of 300 copies