6292

Portrait drawing

André Maurois 1934

Head and shoulders, looking away to the left, wearing a suit and tie

Charcoal and pencil on board, 79 x 56 cm (31 x 22 in.)

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 78: André Maurois July 14th [among other signatures dated 1934]

Studio Inventory, p. 144 (5): Study of Andre [sic] Maurois

Private Collection

The present drawing was executed in 1934, on the occasion of the publication of an article about André Maurois in Everyman, of which Viscountess Dunedin was the editor.

Because of his admiration for the writer, de László offered to make a charcoal portrait of him as an illustration, and a sitting was arranged for 14 July 1934. De László found his subject particularly inspiring and he made an additional drawing [13579]. He eventually decided to paint a study-portrait in oil, which was reproduced in Everyman [6284].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [6284].

PROVENANCE:  

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Henry de Laszlo, his eldest son

CC 2008