7760

Judith Ellen Wilson 1932

Half-length to the right and looking left, wearing a pale green stole over a white dress, with a pearl necklace

Oil on canvas, 66.7 x 54 cm (26 ¼ x 21 ¼ in.)

Inscribed lower right: de László / 1932 XII   

Laib L17675(797) / C28(14)  Miss Wilson

NPG 1932 Album, p. 20

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 74: Judith E. Wilson. Nov. 30th 1932

Private Collection

In 1932 de László agreed with Lord Rothermere [4759] to paint seven “sketches” of members of the Harmsworth family for an honorarium of 200 guineas each. The artist eventually produced finished portraits of Judith Wilson, Lady King [4792] and the Comtesse d’Estainville [4872] as he had done so “entirely for his own satisfaction.”^[1] The four other portraits painted for Lord Rothermere included those of his son Esmond Harmsworth [4772] and his children Vere [4782], Lorna [4774] and Esmé [4776].

Judith Ellen Wilson was born in Dublin 30 October 1902, youngest daughter of Charles William Wilson (1871-1930), a professor of music and professional musician, and his wife Adelaide (1867-1953). Her mother was first cousin to Lord Rothermere [4759] and he invited the widowed mother and daughter to live with him at his house in Virginia Water after Charles Wilson’s death. He and his wife Lilian were separated by this time and they acted as his hostesses when entertaining society.^[2] 

Judith had a great love of the theatre and the arts and became a close friend of the actress Edith Evans (1888-1976). On the death of the latter’s husband they lived together at the sitter’s home the Gate House, Kilndown in Kent.

Judith Wilson died of cancer 11 July 1960 and left her substantial fortune in trust to Edith Evans and afterwards to the University of Cambridge. On the death of Evans in 1976 the legacy, increased by some valuable works of art, was used to create the Judith E. Wilson Fellowships. These are held in the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge and are used to support work in drama and poetry.

LITERATURE:

•Bourne, Richard. Lords of Fleet Street: The Harmsworth Dynasty. Barrie & Jenkins, London, p. 118

•DLA084-0015, letter from de László to Lord Rothermere, 10 May 1933

KF 2013