6385

Preparatory work

Charles Edward Francis McCann 1934 

Half-length slightly to the right, full face, wearing naval mess dress

Blue pencil on buff paper, 21.6 x 34.4 cm (8 ½ x 13 ½ in.)

Inscribed top left: Mr. Charles McCann - New York [in the hand of John de Laszlo]

Inscribed verso top left: 328 

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 77: Charles E.F. McCann Jan 23 - 1934

Studio Inventory, p. 163 (328): Study of Mr. Charles McCann, New York.

Private Collection

This is a preparatory drawing for a half-length portrait [111414] of Charles McCann in naval mess dress, painted during de László’s last visit to America in late 1933 and early 1934. The composition is almost identical to the final portrait. His wife Helena was also painted [110594] at the same time and twice more on a visit to London in 1936 [6390] [6393]. He also painted portraits of the sitter’s daughters, Constance [110596] and Helena [110597], in 1932.

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [111414].  

KF 2021