7830

RECTO

DESTROYED

Study portrait

Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark 1934

Head and shoulders only, full face, wearing dress uniform with field decorations

Oil on board, 83.9 x 66.1 cm (33 x 26 in.)

Inscribed lower right: H.R.H. Prince Nicholas of Greece / Paris 1934 6 Sept - / de László

Sitters’ Book II, f. 79: Nicholas / Prince of Greece / and Denmark. Paris 8th Oct. / 1934

Studio Inventory, p. 29 (156): H.R.H Prince Nicholas of Greece. The Father of H.R.H The Duchess of Kent - signed “Paris 1934 Sept. de László” Painted at 42 bis Avenue Henri Martin. During the sitting Princess Marina made pencil sketches of her father. They are to be found in one of the artist’ sketchbooks and are signed by her.

This portrait was made in September 1934 while the artist was staying at the home of his great friend Armand, XII Duc de Gramont at 42 bis Avenue Henri Martin, where he had the use of a studio when he was working in Paris. The previous month Prince Nicholas had commissioned portraits of his daughter Princess Marina [5928] and Prince George, Duke of Kent [5931], to whom she was engaged, which de László had painted in his London studio.  

While her father sat for this portrait Princess Marina made pencil sketches of her father in one of the artist’s sketchbooks. Also in Paris, de László painted a second study of Marina [5954], which he gave her as a wedding present as well as a second portrait of Prince Nicholas wearing a suit [7827].

For biographical notes on the sitter, see [7827]. Verso is a rejected portrait of Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark [112700].

PROVENANCE:

In the possession of the artist on his death;

Paul Leonardo de Laszlo, his third son;

By descent in the family;

Destroyed in a fire in 1989

LITERATURE:

•Rutter, Owen, Portrait of a Painter, London, 1939, pp. 287, 288, 289

KF 2017