6164

Doctor Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury 1933

Seated three-quarter length to the left, wearing his doctor’s robes over clerical dress and a gold cross hung around his neck, his left hand resting upon his knee and his right holding a book, the index finger between the pages. In the upper left corner, the arms of Canterbury and the subject’s personal arms are displayed impaled on a shield with a mitre above against two croziers in saltire and an archiepiscopal cross in pale, below these the inscription COSMO / ARCHIPS / CANTUAR

Oil on canvas, 129.6 x 88.9 cm (50 ¼ x 35 in.)

Inscribed lower left: de László / 1933. II 

Laib L17807(510) / C4(10): Archbishop of Canterbury

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 75: Cosmo Cantuar: 17 Feb.

Balliol College, Oxford

De László had painted Archbishop Lang the previous year at Lambeth Palace as a commission for Church House, Westminster, where it remains [6161]. The preparatory portrait for that picture is untraced [6165]. The Archbishop was painted again in 1937 in his robes for the Coronation of George VI [6171]. That portrait now hangs at Lambeth Palace, and a preparatory portrait sketch remains in the collection of a descendant of the artist [6173]. There exists an oil sketch of the sitter in an almost identical pose which was done in preparation for the present portrait and which was in the possession of the artist on his death [6164].

De László was asked by Balliol College, Oxford, to make a copy of the Church House portrait but instead painted an entirely new composition. The Archbishop certainly granted the artist at least one sitting, as is attested by his signature in de László’s sitters’ book. The artist presented the new portrait to Balliol College “in token of the fact that he has had three sons at Balliol.”^[1] 

The portrait was formally presented at the college on 11 May 1933, at a short private ceremony in Balliol Hall.^[2] Lucy de László recorded the proceedings in her diary: “at 5 was the unveiling of Archbishop York’s [6164] portrait at Church House. Mrs Balfour came with me to the balcony - Most warmhearted del. speeches.  First Archdeacon Partridge spoke & described P. as a “consummate artist” - & expressed gratefulness that P. made it possible for them to achieve these works of Art -  The “Canter” spoke - & lastly His Grace York - Cater had already unveiled the picture – P`s name was twice clapped - York was really moved, at the appreciation shown by this portrait being painted for the C. Assembly -  He certainly had worked & worked - - & then his appreciation of Mr de L. was great -  How he had enjoyed the sittings - or rather standing - - listening to the stories he was told, & how he was sorry when after 5 days they were over - & how he was glad to have gained a friend during those hours when the portrait was painted - It was all so very very appreciative of P. & beautifully expressed - He (P) was v. pleased - Bishop of London was there & asked P. to sit beside him. Bell, Ld Hugh Cecil, Ld Grey [5398]- Archdeacon Partridge [6565] & [6566] I also had the honour of a vestment conferred on him just before we came - We saw it – most beautiful-There are now 6 or 7 pictures by P. in the Church House.”^[3] 

The portrait was thought to be an excellent likeness by those who knew the sitter well. Mrs Gertrude Balfour, a friend to both the sitter and the artist, wrote to de László: “It is exactly like him, & also a delightful side of him. You have eliminated the sterner side and brought out the twinkle in his eye!”^[4]

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [6161].

PROVENANCE:

Presented to Balliol College, Oxford, 11 May 1933

EXHIBITED:

•The French Gallery, London, 1934

•Paris Salon, Paris, Salon de la société des artistes français, 1934, no. 1414

LITERATURE:

•“The Primate’s Portrait For Balliol,” The Times, 12 May 1933, p. 14

• “To Exhibit In London: Philip de László Will Have Show at Knoedlers Galleries,” The New York Times, 11 June 1933

•“Salon de 1934,” L’Illustration, no. 4708 (12 May 1934), ill.

•Rutter, Owen, Portrait of a Painter, London, 1939, pp. 373, 378

•Jones, Dr. John, The Portraits of Balliol College: A Catalogue, 1990, no. 84, ill. p. 28

•Hart-Davis, Duff, in collaboration with Caroline Corbeau-Parsons, De László: His Life and Art, Yale University Press, 2010, p. 243

•Beaken, Robert, Cosmo Lang: Archbishop in War and Crisis, I.B. Tauris, London, 2012, ill. dustjacket

•DLA020-0050, letter from Gertrude Balfour to de László, 7 June 1933

•László, Philip de, 1933-1934 diary, private collection

•László, Philip de, 1934 diary, private collection, [ill. pasted press cutting, Daily Mail, Paris, 28 April 1934]

•László, Philip de, January-June 1935 diary, private collection, 22 April entry, p. 98

[pasted press cutting, Bulletin, Glasgow, 17 April 1935, about the hang of the portrait of Dr Lang and Dr Temple at Balliol]

KF 2013