DLA020-0008  Transcription

LANGFORD,

LECHLADE,

GLOS. 

25/6/1933

My dear De Laszlo,

I have been to your exhibition, it is splendid.^[1] My only fear is that you will do what your neighbour Frank Holl over the way did – overwork yourself.^[2] It is perfectly clear that you are at your very best when you get a sitter whose character appeals to you – that is natural however. Your portrait of Maude Royden [6809] is wonderful and as fine as a picture, as it is as a portrait and it is so happy in composition. I should think that it must reproduce exceedingly well. I know that you would not mind my saying exactly what I think.

The following portraits stand out in my memory as exceptionally fine – Earl Spencer [4066], The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne [11642], the Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne [11641], Field Marshal Viscount Bing [3666], The Earl of Scarbrough [7122], Viscount Cecil [4053], the Archbishop [6161], and the Countess László Széchényi [4238], which is a magnificent portrait in every respect – vitality, colour, composition and everything

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is just perfect – in my humble opinion that is one of your finest portraits – which will be greatly sought after some day when we are all gone. Your Strathmore portraits [11642][11641] are particularly happy and spirited and go splendidly with the Royal Portraits. The power in the hand of Viscount Bing [Byng] [3666] is in my opinion one of the finest things in the exhibition – It  is as full of vigour and character as Mussolini [6383] – this is a remarkable face. The strength in the mouth and the almost wild look in the eyes make me feel that he is a man whose word means deed. A truly remarkable character. You have a very happy way of treating Society ladies. La Marquesa del Merito [13322] was particularly good but what, I wonder, is the little dark spot on her upper lip? Is it a “beauty spot” which had to go in? It was very nice to see again your portraits of your sons [10270][10269], which you painted at Churt and the delightful picture of Mrs de Laszlo [[13210] or [8180]]. I am so glad that you had a successful Private View and more than one Royalty present.

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My wife^[3] is going to the exhibition later on when she goes to town. I have not seen any notice of it in “The Times” but it would not be worth reading in any case, as the Art Critic rarely writes anything but ignorant nonsense, and mostly of the work of people about whom the less said the better! I am afraid dear old Baldry^[4] is pretty bad, he [will not would his?] able pen much more – it is heart-breaking for a man of his stamp to see the trend of affairs in the Art World. Yet – the fact that a [Hobbema?] fetched over £3,000 shows clearly that in the end, good works hold their own.  I shall never see the return to sanity. I do hope that you will hand a good sum to the A.G.B. as a result of your exhibition.^[5] I cannot imagine how they make their grants. There must be hundreds of artists who must apply, who are not really artists at all; and yet, how can they rule them out?

Everyone knows the great distress which exists in these difficult times but it is

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very difficult to help those who will not help themselves and who spend all they get, when they receive it. The dealers are having a very bad time “living on past profits” as they can sell next to nothing.

With kindest greetings to Mme de Laszlo^[6] and you all 

Yours ever sincerely

Robert Morley

Editorial Note:

Robert Morley (1857–1941), British artist

CC

16/02/2006