DLA019-0162 Transcription
February 7th [19]31
I wish to thank you for your most kind letter of the 31st of January.[1] I am glad to say that I am already much better, but not yet myself.[2] I was sorry to hear that Lady Wingate[3] had also to suffer from this unpleasant “plague”.
I appreciate very much you taking so much interest in the matter of Abyssinia. It is all so very tempting what you tell me and nothing would give me greater pleasure than to take the opportunity of your delightful suggestion and visit now the Sudan, respectively Abyssinia. What interesting studies I could paint there of such character which so far I know is still unfamiliar to Europe and what studies one could paint of the Emperor and his entourage. With interesting personalities and how exceedingly pittoresque.
Two years ago, when staying in Egypt painting King Fouad,[4] my friend Sir John Maffey[5] already suggested to me to stay with him and go on from there to Abyssinia, but it was already April, much too hot for such an excursion.
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At present, I have to stay here for another week to fulfil a long outstanding engagement and paint two important portraits. After I have finished, I am expecting my wife and our program is to spend several weeks in the South of Spain to recover completely and have a rest after my very tiring three months in London. At the same time. I hope I shall do some interesting studies there. I only wish I could change my plan and go to Abyssinia, but I am afraid that to arrange such a long journey would take to [sic] much time I will certainly not give up the idea of going to Abyssinia and if not now, I hope next year I will be able to avail myself of your kind suggestions and will ask you for your good help.
The last letter which I received from our mutual old friend Slatin[6] was dated December 22nd, in which he described me [sic] his bad luck in falling and injuring his wrists. He was very unlucky with his daughter[7] who’s [sic] health is not very good and he brought her back to the Black Forest. Poor fellow, he himself seems to me to be an invalid and he hates the cold. I do wish I could visit him as I am afraid
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he will not be able to come to England.
It was so interesting what you old [sic] me about the Sword which is certainly an historic event.[8]
If you wish to write to me, I shall be here for another week, otherwise, letters will always be forwarded to me from my home address.
Kindly remember me to Lady Wingate.
Looking forward to meet you on our return, towards the end of march, | I am, | Yours sincerely,
Reginald WINGATE, Esq.,
Queen Anne’s Mansions,
St James’s Park,
LONDON – S.W.1.
Editorial Note:
General Sir Francis Reginald Wingate, 1st Baronet (1861–1953), Governor-General of Sudan and British High Commissioner in Egypt
SMDL
11/06/2018
[1] DLA019-0163, letter from Sir Francis Reginald Wingate to de László, 31 January 1931
[2] De László had fallen ill with a “bad flu” in the second week of January 1931, two days before his second son Stephen’s wedding on 14 January. Owing to the severity of the illness, the artist’s doctor had insisted that he remain confined to bed thereby missing the nuptials (see DLA125-0001, Philip de László, 1931 diary, private collection, 14 January entry).
[3] Catherine Leslie, Lady Wingate, née Rundle (1858–1946)
[4] In 1929, de László painted portraits of King Fuad I of Egypt (1868–1936) [4094][4099][110671][113256] and the King’s son, Prince Farouk, later King Farouk I of Egypt (1920–1965) [4122].
[5] John Loader Maffey, 1st Baron Rugby (1877–1969) [6251]
[6] Sir Rudolf Carl von Slatin, also known as ‘Slatin Pasha’ (1857–1932) [7178]
[7] Baroness Anne Marie von Slatin, married name Mrs Arthur Ponsonby; other married name Princess George Galitzine (1916–2007) [7176]
[8] Wingate mentioned in his letter that the Morning Post of 26 January 1931 had reported an account of a sword which Slatin Pasha had lost in Kordofan in 1883 but which he was reunited with in London in 1895, see DLA019-0163, op. cit.