Philip Alexius de Laszlo
Encyclopedia
Philip Alexius de László, MVO (30 April 1869 Budapest - 22 November 1937 London) was a Hungarian painter known particularly for his portraits of royal and aristocratic personages.
as Laub Fülöp Elek (Hungarian style with the surname first), the eldest son of a Jewish tailor. The family changed its name to László in 1891.
As a young man, László apprenticed to a photographer while studying art, eventually earning a place at the National Academy of Art, where he studied under Bertalan Székely
and Károly Lotz
. He followed this with studies in Munich and Paris. László's portrait of Pope Leo XIII
earned him a Grand Gold Medal at the Paris International Exhibition
in 1900.
In 1903 László moved from Budapest to Vienna
. In 1907 he moved to England. He remained based in London
for the rest of his life while traveling the world to fulfill commissions.
by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
. In 1912 he was ennobled by King Franz Joseph of Hungary
; his surname became "László de Lombos". The family later shortened the name to "de László".
László became a British citizen in 1914 but was interned for over twelve months in 1917 and 1918 during the First World War.
László suffered a heart attack in 1936. The following year he had another heart attack and died at his home in Hampstead
, near London. In 1939, the book Portrait of a Painter. The Authorized Life of Philip de László by Owen Rutter
, written in conjunction with de László, was published.
. They had first met in Munich in 1892, but for some years had been forbidden to see each other. Lucy de László's connections almost certainly brought her husband new commissions. They had six children (Photograph of László with his wife and sons):
László had seventeen grandchildren.
Early life
László was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
as Laub Fülöp Elek (Hungarian style with the surname first), the eldest son of a Jewish tailor. The family changed its name to László in 1891.
As a young man, László apprenticed to a photographer while studying art, eventually earning a place at the National Academy of Art, where he studied under Bertalan Székely
Bertalan Székely
Bertalan Székely was a Hungarian Romantic painter of historical themes. "The Discovery of Louis II's Dead Body", "Women of Eger", "Battle of Mohács", "Ladislas V" are among the most important of his historical paintings. Szekely is also known for his many murals.-External links:* *...
and Károly Lotz
Károly Lotz
Lotz Károly Antal Pál, or Karl Anton Paul Lotz was a German-Hungarian painter.- Career :Karl Lotz was born in Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany, the 7th and youngest surviving child of Wilhelm Christian Lotz and Antonia Höfflick ...
. He followed this with studies in Munich and Paris. László's portrait of Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
earned him a Grand Gold Medal at the Paris International Exhibition
Exposition Universelle (1900)
The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, from April 15 to November 12, 1900, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next...
in 1900.
In 1903 László moved from Budapest to Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. In 1907 he moved to England. He remained based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
for the rest of his life while traveling the world to fulfill commissions.
Later life
László's patrons awarded him numerous honors and medals. In 1909 he was named an honorary Member of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
by King Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
. In 1912 he was ennobled by King Franz Joseph of Hungary
Franz Joseph I of Austria
Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I was Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, King of Croatia, Apostolic King of Hungary, King of Galicia and Lodomeria and Grand Duke of Cracow from 1848 until his death in 1916.In the December of 1848, Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria abdicated the throne as part of...
; his surname became "László de Lombos". The family later shortened the name to "de László".
László became a British citizen in 1914 but was interned for over twelve months in 1917 and 1918 during the First World War.
László suffered a heart attack in 1936. The following year he had another heart attack and died at his home in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, near London. In 1939, the book Portrait of a Painter. The Authorized Life of Philip de László by Owen Rutter
Owen Rutter
Edward Owen Rutter was an English historian, novelist and travel writer.After serving with the North Borneo Civil Service from 1910 to 1915, Rutter returned to Britain during World War I and was commissioned. Rutter served with the 7th Battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment in France and on the...
, written in conjunction with de László, was published.
Marriage and family
In 1900 László married Lucy Madeleine Guinness, a member of the wealthy and well-connected Guinness familyGuinness family
The Guinness family is an extensive aristocratic Irish Protestant family noted for their accomplishments in brewing, banking, politics and religious ministry...
. They had first met in Munich in 1892, but for some years had been forbidden to see each other. Lucy de László's connections almost certainly brought her husband new commissions. They had six children (Photograph of László with his wife and sons):
- Eva de László (born and died 1903, Budapest).
- Henry de László (died 1967); married Julianne Fischer
- Stephen Ernest de László; married Heather J Jones
- Saragh Mary de László (born 1988)
- Christian Henry Paul de László (born 1990)
- Pauline de László
- Stephen Ernest de László; married Heather J Jones
- Stephen Philip de László (died 7 January 1939); married Edith Alexandra Diana von Versen (died 30 December 1938)
- Paul de László; married Josephine
- Christopher Paul de László; married April 1967 Helen Genia Arntzen (born Gerling)
- Jane Marie de László; married 1966 William Haywood Ruffin
- (fourth son) Patrick David de László (died October 1980); married 1stly Deborah Greenwood (died 11 November 1980; daughter of Hamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount GreenwoodHamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount GreenwoodHamar Greenwood, 1st Viscount Greenwood PC, KC , known as Sir Hamar Greenwood, Bt, between 1915 and 1929 and as The Lord Greenwood between 1929 and 1937, was a Canadian-born British lawyer and politician...
); married 2ndly 1977 Pamela Newall, Baroness Sharples (born 1923) as her second husband; married (div by 1975) Penelope Anne Kitson as her third husband. Patrick and Deborah had issue:- Damon Patrick de László married 1972 Sandra Daphne Hacking (daughter of Douglas Eric Hacking, 2nd Baron HackingBaron HackingBaron Hacking, of Chorley in the County Palatine of Lancaster, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1945 for the Conservative politician Sir Douglas Hacking, 1st Baronet. He was Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1936 to 1942. Hacking had already been created a...
)- Lucy Deborah de László (born 1975)
- Stephanie Gay de László married 1978 Roger Stanley Williams
- Clemency Lucy Williams (born 1979)
- Aidan Paul Hammar Williams (born 1981)
- Octavia Julian Williams (born 1983)
- Charmian de László
- Meriel de László
- John Kitson married Victoria Hyde
- Philip Kitson
- Robert Kitson
- Damon Patrick de László married 1972 Sandra Daphne Hacking (daughter of Douglas Eric Hacking, 2nd Baron Hacking
- (fifth son) John Adolphus de László (died 1990) married 1stly Peggy Hennessy, by whom 1 son and possibly more children. He married ca. 1954 (divorced ca. 1977) Rosemary Townsend, née PawleRosemary Pratt, Marchioness CamdenRosemary Pratt, Marchioness Camden was a British socialite and artist, best known as the first wife of Peter Townsend, the man who later hoped to marry the late Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom.Rosemary was the daughter of Brigadier-General Hanbury Pawle CBE DL , a Deputy Lieutenant for...
(died 2004), former wife of Group Captain Peter Townsend, as her second husband, and had issue one son and one daughter with her (plus two stepsons Giles and Hugo Townsend by her first marriage).- Martin Richard de László (son of Peggy Hennessy); married 7 February 1967 Mary Gwendolen Freeman, daughter of Lady Winefride Freeman, née Fitzalan-Howard(1914–2006), youngest daughter of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of NorfolkHenry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of NorfolkHenry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk, , styled Baron Maltravers until 1856 and Earl of Arundel and Surrey between 1856 and 1860, was a British Unionist politician and philanthropist...
). and had three children, who are in remainder to the Barony Herries of TerreglesLord Herries of TerreglesLord Herries of Terregles is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1490 for Herbert Herries. On the death of his grandson, the third Lord, the male line failed. He was succeeded by his daughter Agnes. She married Sir John Maxwell, second son of Robert Maxwell, 5th Lord Maxwell...
:- Rupert de Laszlo (b. 1968), a company director.
- Oliver de Laszlo (b. 1971)
- Lydia de Laszlo (b. 1980)
- (by Peggy Hennessy?) Lavinia de Laszlo
- (by Rosemary Townsend, later Marchioness Camden) Piers de László, an artist, currently setting up a de Laszlo museum in Portugal.
- (by Rosemary Townsend, later Marchioness Camden) Charlotte de László; married Jezza Saucisson-Salmon.
- Martin Richard de László (son of Peggy Hennessy); married 7 February 1967 Mary Gwendolen Freeman, daughter of Lady Winefride Freeman, née Fitzalan-Howard(1914–2006), youngest daughter of Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk
László had seventeen grandchildren.
People painted
People painted by László include the following:
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Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903... (1900) photo James Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater James William Lowther, 1st Viscount Ullswater, GCB, PC, JP, DL was a British Conservative politician. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons between 1905 and 1921.-Background and education:The son of Hon... Andrew W. Mellon Andrew William Mellon was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and Secretary of the Treasury from March 4, 1921 until February 12, 1932.-Early life:... (1931) photo Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto was a British nobleman and politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the eighth since Canadian Confederation, and as Viceroy and Governor-General of India, the country's 17th.-Early life and career:Minto was born in London, the... Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois , was the daughter of Louis II, Prince of Monaco, and the mother of Prince Rainier III... photo Louis II, Prince of Monaco Louis II was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 27 June 1922 until 9 May 1949.-Early years:Born Louis Honoré Charles Antoine Grimaldi in Baden-Baden, Germany, he was the only child of Prince Albert I of Monaco , and Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton... photo Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma Edwina Cynthia Annette Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma,, GBE, DCVO, CI, DStJ was an English heiress, socialite, relief-worker, wife of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and last Vicereine of India.- Lineage and wealth :Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma... (1924 when Lady Louis Mountbatten) photo Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven Louis Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, PC , formerly Prince Louis Alexander of Battenberg, was a German prince related to the British Royal Family... (1910 when Prince Louis of Battenberg) Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh... (1925 when Lord Louis Mountbatten) photo Joseph Ferguson Peacocke Joseph Ferguson Peacocke was a Church of Ireland cleric. He was the Bishop of Meath from 1894 to 1897 and then Archbishop of Dublin from 1897 until 1915... , Archbishop of Dublin (1908) photo Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on... Marie of Edinburgh Marie of Romania was Queen consort of Romania from 1914 to 1927, as the wife of Ferdinand I of Romania.-Early life:... (1924) photo; (1936) photo; (1936) photo Theodore Roosevelt Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity... (1910) photo Vita Sackville-West The Hon Victoria Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson, CH , best known as Vita Sackville-West, was an English author, poet and gardener. She won the Hawthornden Prize in 1927 and 1933... (1910) Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Karl Alexander August Johann, Grand Duke of Saxony; 24 June 1818 – 5 January 1901) was the ruler of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach from 1853 until his death.-Biography:... (1898) Alfonso XIII of Spain Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority... (1927) photo Louise Mountbatten Louise Alexandra Marie Irene Mountbatten became Queen consort of Sweden in 1950 and served as such until her death in 1965... (1907 when Princess Louise of Battenberg) photo Alexandra of Denmark Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom... Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the longest-lived Princess of the Blood Royal of the British Royal Family and the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria... (1929) photo Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and... (1937) Edward VII of the United Kingdom Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910... Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II... (1925 when Duchess of York) photo; (1931 when Duchess of York) photo; (1931 when Duchess of York) photo Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,... (when Princess Elizabeth of York) (1933) photo George VI of the United Kingdom George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death... (1931 when Duke of York) photo Prince George, Duke of Kent Prince George, Duke of Kent was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth son of George V and Mary of Teck, and younger brother of Edward VIII and George VI... (1934) photo Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll The Princess Louise was a member of the British Royal Family, the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband, Albert, Prince Consort.Louise's early life was spent moving between the various royal residences in the... (1915) Vita Sackville-West The Hon Victoria Mary Sackville-West, Lady Nicolson, CH , best known as Vita Sackville-West, was an English author, poet and gardener. She won the Hawthornden Prize in 1927 and 1933... Ignaz Wechselmann Ignaz Wechselmann was a Hungarian architect and philanthropist.Educated in Berlin, Wechselmann moved to Vienna where he became the friend and assistant of the architect Ludwig Förster. In 1856 he moved to Budapest, where he, as Förster's representative, superintended the building of the Dohány... (1894) photo Julius Wernher Sir Julius Charles Wernher, 1st Baronet was a German-born Randlord and art collector who became part of the English establishment.-Life history:... |
External links
- The de Laszlo Archive Trust. Last accessed 15 August 2007.
- National Portrait Gallery biographical profile and links to images Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- Articles on de Laszlo from website dedicated to John Singer Sargent. Last accessed 15 August 2007.
- Suzy Menkes. "A Hungarian artist's brush with grandeur" The International Herald Tribune Friday 9 January 2004. Last accessed 15 August 2007.http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/01/09/menkes_ed3_.php
- The Honourable Sandra de Laszlo Interview about her grandfather-in-law's work and current appeal. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- http://www.therp.co.uk/back-catalogues.asp Royal Society of Portrait Painters' millennium catalogue
- Portrait of Princess Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary of Wales (Oil on Cardboard, 1907)