3539

Lord Henry Bathurst and the Honourable George Bathurst 1936

Seated half-length to the right, both full face to the viewer, George looking slightly left; Lord Henry on the left, wearing a short-sleeved pale grey shirt unbuttoned at the neck, dark grey trousers and a belt; George on the right, wearing a long-sleeved white shirt and a green tie, an open book lying across both their laps

Oil on canvas, 73.1 x 57.2 cm (28 ¾ x 22 ½ in.)

Inscribed lower left: de László / 1936

Laib L14677C(226) / C30(29) Two Boys

NPG Album 1936-7, p. 7b, where labelled: The two sons of Lord and Lady Apsley.

Sitters’ Book II, f. 86: Henry Allen John Bathurst / George B. Bathurst. July 29TH. 1936.

Private Collection

This is the last portrait de László painted of members of the Bathurst family, who had been important patrons since Lord Apsley [2023], father of the sitters, sat to him in 1919. The present portrait was begun in the artist’s London studio 29 July and completed over the following days. De László wrote to the sitters’ grandfather Earl Bathurst 6 July 1936: “Regarding your grandsons’ sittings, I can fully understand that they will want to get home for their holidays as soon as possible, and as arranged, I am keeping both morning and afternoon for them on Wednesday, the 29th, and the following three days. I much look forward to their sittings.”^[1] Lord Henry later recalled that there was a lot of fussing and each sitting seemed to take quite a long time.^[2] A preparatory drawing of the boys is recorded in the artist’s Studio Inventory but has not been traced [113028].

The portrait was commissioned by the boys’ grandparents, the Earl [3541] and Countess Bathurst [3544], and hung in their home at Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire. The Countess wrote to de László to express their pleasure: “I know Joe has written to tell you how much we like the charming picture - it is really quite perfect & looks so well on the maize coloured walls of the little dining room. It is lighted from the top of the frame & we shall enjoy seeing it every day. Our friends think it extremely like the boys & so you could not have given us a greater pleasure than to paint it.”^[3]

Countess Bathurst later enquired about the cost of two hundred photographic copies of the portrait for use as a Christmas card. Paul Laib [5994], whom de László used exclusively to photograph his portraits, was recommended for black and white images, and Messrs. Waterlow & Sons, of 26 Great Winchester Street, were recommended for colour reproductions on the basis of their work for the National Gallery and a Christmas card made for the artist the previous year.^[4] 

Other members of the family painted by de László included the sitters’ mother Lady Apsley [3534][3537] and their aunt Lady Alastair Graham [4536] [4535].

Henry Allen John Bathurst was born 1 May 1927, the eldest son of Allen Algernon, Lord Apsley (1895-1942) and his wife Violet Meeking (1895-1966). He was educated at Ridley College in Canada, Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford. His father was killed on active service during the Second World War and he succeeded his grandfather as 8th Earl Bathurst in 1943. He joined the 10th Royal Hussars in 1946 and left in 1948 to join the Royal Gloucester Hussars of the Territorial Army, where he served as Captain until 1957.

Many of his life’s roles related to the management of his estate at Cirencester. He served as Governor of the Royal Agricultural College, Director of the Forestry Group 1986-1992, President Royal Forestry Society, 1976-1978, Master of the Vale of the White Horse (Earl Bathurst’s) Hounds 1950-1964. In government he was Hon. Secretary Agriculture Committee (Conservative), House of Lords 1957, a Lord-in-Waiting, 1957-1961, and Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office, 1961-1962. He was Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Gloucester from 1960-1986.

On 20 March 1959 he married Judith Mary Nelson, daughter of Amos Christopher Nelson of Springfield House, Foulridge, Colne, Lancashire. There were three children of the marriage: Henrietta (born 1962), Allen (born 1964), and Alexander (born 1965). The marriage was dissolved in 1977 and in 1978 he married secondly Gloria Rutherston, née Clarry, daughter of Harold Edward Clarry, of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and widow of David Rutherston. He died 16 October 2011.

The Honourable George Bertram Bathurst was born 12 March 1929, the second son of Lord and Lady Apsley. He was educated at Eton and then Trinity College, Oxford, where he graduated Master of Arts. He also studied at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He was a Lieutenant in the 10th Royal Hussars and a Captain in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry. In 1973 he married Susan Messer, daughter of Malcolm Messer, and they had a son William Malcolm Bathurst (born 1978). They lived at Hullasey House, Tarlton, Gloucestershire. George Bathurst died in London 22 February 2010.

PROVENANCE:

7th Earl Bathurst

LITERATURE:

•DLA059-0035, de László to Countess Bathurst, 6 July 1936  

•DLA059-0109, de László to Countess Bathurst, 5 August 1936  

•DLA059-0038, Countess Bathurst to de László, undated  

KF 2020