DLA018-0056 Transcription (translated where indicated)

Vienna

I Reichsratstrasse 7

22 August [1]932

My dearest friend:

Just a line: I am writing you – lying on my back in bed in the Sanatorium – the operation – [resection?] of the stomach – was performed on Tuesday the 16 and thank heavens – successful – I am progressing very well – and my doctors say I am a good old boy –

Many thanks to you and dear Mrs Laszlo for all your kindness to Anne M. and Countess Therese.^[1]

I think A.M. will remain until middle Septm or a bit longer in England – about her future I am not able to decide yet. I am too ill – and suffering –^[2]

Thousand Thanks – [remainder of the letter is in German in the original; there follows a translation] that you want to make me a sketch of Anne M. – but for me and not for her.

Writing is hard for me.

[Page 2]

I kiss the hand of your revered lady wife – warm regards to your John and to you –

As always your grateful old friend

R. Slatin

PS Lucky Phipps^[3] – he has done well.

Editorial Note:

Sir Rudolf Carl von Slatin, also known as ‘Slatin Pasha’ (1857-1932); for biographical notes, see [7178].

SMDL (transcription)

19/05/2018

LV (translation)

23/11/2021

[1] De László had planned to paint a picture for his own pleasure on a subject in connection with the First World War. He wished to depict: “not men fighting, but the still nobler part of suffering women at home; women of all classes in a chapel surrounding the burning candles for the fallen souls” (Rutter, pp. 372-373). The painting was never started, although many studies and sketches remained in the artist’s studio on his death. De László made four studies of Sir Rudolph’s daughter, Baroness Anne Marie von Slatin (1916-2007), for the picture: a full-length study of the Baroness kneeling in a church interior [4298], and three others that included both her and her companion, Countess Thérèse Eltz (1902-1993), who was also persuaded to pose [2974] [7006] & [7944]. De László also made a study portrait of Baroness Anne Marie [7176], which he gave to the sitter as a thank-you for agreeing to pose for the War Picture. Baroness Anne Marie and Countess Thérèse enjoyed lunches with de László and his wife Lucy. The Baroness remembered the visits as “a cosy encounter among friends” (as told to Sandra de Laszlo, August 1994, see [7176]).

[2] Sir Rudolph von Slatin died on 4 October 1932.

[3] Colonel P. R. Phipps (d. 1932)