6353

Ulick de Burgh Browne, Earl of Altamont 1917

Half-length slightly to the left, head turned full face to the viewer, wearing service dress of the 2nd Dragoon Guards, his right hand at his waist holding his Sam Browne belt

Oil on canvas, 82.5 x 65.4cm (32 ½ x 25 ¾ in.)

Inscribed lower right: P A de László / 1917

Sitters’ Book II, f. 9: Altamont. [note by the artist: “Sligo”] Mar 3rd 1917.

Private Collection

De László’s speed and technical facility at capturing a likeness meant he was much in demand during the First World War, painting officers briefly home on leave or about to depart for the Front. He completed these portraits in 2 to 3 hours and reduced his commission to £100, about half his normal fee.

A letter from the sitter’s mother to the artist’s wife Lucy suggests the portrait was not completed before Lord Altamont had to join his regiment and this is supported by the unfinished right hand of the sitter: “Please forgive the delay in acknowledging the safe arrival here of our boy’s picture. I need hardly tell you what a very gt. Joy it is to us to have it, particularly now when Altamont is out there fighting - I wd. have written sooner but we have been out of town, arranging our house at Haslemere to let for the summer. The portrait is like all your husband’s work, the work of genius & I only hope that at some future date he may be willing to do to it the few remaining touches which he told me of. Again many thanks for sending it. During these last awful 6 months I have often longed to be able to look at my boy’s picture. When will this ghastly war cease? No sign at present.”^[1]

De László painted a number of portraits of the Sligo family: the sitter’s mother Agatha in 1915 [5943], his father the 6th Marquess of Sligo in 1916 [5946], his sister Countess Stanhope in 1921 [7209] and his brother-in-law the Honourable Michael Knatchbull-Hugessen in service dress in 1914 [2894].

Ulick de Burgh Browne was born 30 March 1898, the youngest child and only son of the 6th Marquess of Sligo (1856-1935) and Agatha Stewart Hodgson (1866-1965). He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He commissioned as Captain in the cavalry regiment 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys) and served in the First World War. Rapidly promoted to Lieutenant he was awarded the Military Cross in 1918. His Official Citation reads: "For conspicious gallantry and initiative when on reconnaissance at Vieville and Fesnoy on 4th November 1918; near Le Sart on 5th November and South of Cartignies on 6th and 7th November. During these four days he handled his patrols with great skill and boldness, obtaining and sending in accurate information."^[2] Though badly wounded he was remembered by his family as remaining cheerful in spite of the difficulties he faced.

After the war he returned to Westport House, his beloved estate in County Mayo, Ireland and devoted himself to local affairs. At the death of his father in 1935 he inherited the title of 7th Marquess Sligo. In memory of his father he presented to the British Museum the 6th Marquess’ collection of engraved portraits formed for him by George Somes Layard, author of the Catalogue Raisonné of Engraved British Portraits from Altered Plates (Philip Allan & Co, London 1927).

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Lord Sligo established a first aid station with three wards at Westport House and provided a fully equipped fire engine and ambulance for use in the district. He also joined The Local Security Force and was a Group Leader in Section B. He never married and died 7 January 1941 after a short illness, aged only forty-three.

PROVENANCE:

By descent in the family;

Offered Sotheby’s, 26 March 2021, lot 132

LITERATURE:

•Sligo, the Marquess of, Westport House and the Brownes, Moorland Publishing, 1981, p. 71, ill. 

•DLA048-0033, 6th Marchioness of Sligo to Mrs Philip de László, 22 April 1918

KF 2021