13542

Preparatory work

           Dr Theodor Kohn, Archbishop of Olmütz^[1] 1900

Half-length to the right, full face to the viewer, wearing an ermine cape over his bishop's robes, his right hand to his breast, a cross round his neck

Oil on board, 71.1 x 47.6 cm (28 x 18 ¾ in.)

Inscribed lower right: Olmütz / 1900 XI / László

Sitters’ Book I, f. 48: + Theodorus / Princeps Archiepiscopus / Olumuciensis / Olumucii die 17. Novembris / 1900 -

Studio Inventory, p. 48 (246): His Holiness Pope Pious XI [sic]

Private Collection

In 1900 de László was commissioned by Archbishop Kohn to paint his life-size portrait [110820] for the newly restored throne room of Kremsier Castle. In November that year he traveled to Olmütz where he made preparatory drawings and oil studies including the present study portrait, an oil study of the full composition [112500] and a sheet of preparatory drawings [111962]. The present picture remained in the artist’s studio until his death and it was  incorrectly identified in the studio inventory as Pope Pius XI, who was painted in 1924 [6690].

According to the Budapest daily Pester Lloyd, the Austrian Archduchesses Gisela (1856-1932) and Marie Valerie (1868-1924) visited de László’s Budapest studio in April 1901 to view the posthumous portrait of their mother Empress Elisabeth [110806].^[2] This was commissioned by their father, Emperor Franz Joseph, who was painted in 1899 [12700], 1903 [10664] and 1907 [13020]. The present picture was in the studio during their visit and a photograph in the artist’s archive shows him in front of the exceptionally large canvas of the finished picture with the study portrait reflected in the gothic mirror behind.

            For biographical notes on the sitter, see [110820].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Henry de Laszlo, his eldest son

            LITERATURE:      

        •Művészet, 1903, issue 5, p. 289, ill.

•NSzL150-0083, letter from de László to Elek Lippich, 10 August 1900

•NSzL150-0120, letter from de László to Elek Lippich, 9 September 1900

•DLA068-0163, letter from Kerber (?) to de László, 2 November 1900

•DLA139-0005, letter from de László to Ludwig Abels, 22 November 1900

•DLA068-0166, letter from Carl Sulák to de László, 9 December 1900
•DLA137-0001, Pester Lloyd, 23 April 1901, p. 6

•DLA162-0398, Pesti Hírlap, 24 April 1901

•DLA090-0251, Hungarian press cutting, [undated, presumably 1901]      

KK & KF 2022