5175

REJECTED

The Marchioness of Waterford, née Juliet Mary Lindsay 1930

Half-length to the right, her head turned in three-quarter profile to the left, wearing a chiffon stole round her shoulders and a single string of pearls, her right hand raised to her breast

Oil on board, 91.5 x 62.3 cm (36 x 24 ½ in.)

Inscribed verso: Lady Waterford 

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 67: Juliet. Mary. Waterford. / 8. Nov. 1930.

Studio Inventory, p. 29 (155): The Marchioness of Waterford

Private Collection

Pendant portraits of the 7th Marquess of Waterford [5170] and his wife were commissioned on the occasion of their marriage in October 1930. Sittings for the present portrait began on 8 November and the painting was subsequently rejected. A descendant of the sitter confirmed that the portrait was not a good likeness and was rejected for this reason.^[1] This was characteristic of the artist, whose speed of execution enabled him to put a canvas aside and begin again if he was not satisfied. The finished portrait was painted in July 1931 [5173].  The present picture remained in the artist’s studio until his death.

De László also painted the sitter’s mother-in-law Beatrix Beauclerk, Dowager Marchioness of Waterford in 1922 [5414].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [5173].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Paul de Laszlo, third son of the artist

KF 2023