6830

Study portrait

Lady Victoria Cavendish-Bentinck 1912

Half-length to the right, full face, wearing a blue dress and a white organza stole, her right arm in front of her, her hand raised to her chin

Oil on board, 73.7 x 53.4 cm (29 x 21 in.)

Inscribed lower right: P.A. de László / 1912. II / Welbeck Abbey 

Laib L6489 (783) / C2 (35A):  Lady Benting [sic]

NPG Album 1907-13, p. 14

NPG Album 1903-14, p. 11

Private Collection

In 1911 de László was commissioned to paint a portrait of Lady Victoria Cavendish-Bentinck, which resulted in the artist making two paintings of her, one in a hat, which de László rejected but gave her as a present [6829], and the final official version in three-quarter profile to the right [6827].

In 1912, de László stayed at Welbeck Abbey, the Portland seat, to paint formal portraits of the sitter’s parents, the 6th Duke [4442] and Duchess [4411]. It was during that stay that the artist made this informal study. Of the four recorded portraits of Lady Victoria by de László, it was executed with greater spontaneity and bravura, and is the only one that represents her full face. It is unlikely to have been a commissioned work: the artist probably presented it to his new patrons as a memento.        

LITERATURE:

•Rutter, Owen. Portrait of a Painter, London, 1939, p. 275

CC 2008