DLA123-0119 Transcription
(THE PALACE,
CHICHESTER.)
The Watch House
Chideock
Bridport.
[in de László’s hand] Bridport
Dorset
8 April 1931
Dear Mr. de Laszlo
Hettie[1] and I hope to meet you on Monday after tea, and I am most grateful for the arrangements you are so kindly making for the sittings [2812].[2] I hope you wont mind not painting me cope and mitre. The fact is that ultimately I hope this portrait will be added to the unique [sense?] of Deans of Canterbury of which I should be the 32nd unbroken since 1540, [and?] containing
[Page 2]
masterpieces by Romney, Lawrence and others to – which indeed it would be a privilege to add a portrait by such a master as yourself. In this sense I fear a cope & mitre would be not en régle. I will bring up a selection of robes and vestments on Monday!
I am vy glad Stephen & his wife will be with you on Monday night.[3]
Yours [vy?] sincerely
George Cicester:
[Across top of page 2]
[in another hand] the right [illegible] Lord [illegible] of [illegible]
Editorial Note:
George Kennedy Allen Bell, Bishop of Chichester; for biographical notes, see [2812].
LR
28/08/2019
[1] Mrs George Kennedy Allen Bell, née Henrietta Millicent Grace Livingstone (1884-1968) [2813]
[2] In his diary, de László recorded that he started the portrait [2812] on 14 April 1931. Bishop Bell sat again the following morning, and the morning of 18 April, when the portrait was completed (Philip de László, 1931 diary, private collection, p. 108). Bell gave the portrait to the Office of Bishoprics of the Church of England in Canterbury, where he was Dean from March 1924 to June 1929.
[3] In January 1931, Bishop Bell officiated the marriage of de László’s second son Stephen (1904-1939) [4375] to Diana von Versen (1906-1938) [11084]. De László painted [2812] to mark his gratitude.