Sir John Lavery, R.A., R.H.A., R.S.A.

With the Artist until his death;
Spink and Son, London;
Patrick F. Brown, Dublin, where purchased by the present owner in 1996

London, P. Colnaghi & Co., John Lavery: Their Majesties' Court, Buckingham Palace, 1931, Portrait Studies and other Sketches, 1932, no.78 

Kenneth McConkey, John Lavery, A Painter and his World, 2010, (Atelier Books), p. 241, note 155

The canvasboard has warped slightly. A faint and minor surface abrasion in the background near centre of upper edge and another along right edge, only visible in certain lights and upon close inspection. Overall the work appears in good condition. Under ultraviolet light certain areas fluoresce but these appear to be the hand of the artist. Held in a wooden frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

In 1929 Lavery was commissioned to paint a ‘portrait interior’ of Thomas Scott-Ellis, 8^th Baron Howard de Walden, and his family at Chirk Castle in Denbighshire (fig. 1). To the painter’s amusement, his progress was delayed by relatives who would occupy chairs in the centre of the room, hoping to be included in the picture. They had however, to be painted out at the insistence of Lady Howard de Walden, who required only the members of her immediate family to be shown. Because of its complexity, Lavery produced sketches of the younger children playing chess and the present picture – thought to represent the Howard de Walden’s second daughter, the Hon Elisabeth Scott-Ellis (1914-1946), the cellist.

Twenty-five years ago, when the present picture first surfaced with the Dublin dealer, Patrick F Brown, it was erroneously thought to represent the artist’s stepdaughter, Mrs Alice Gwynn, as a child. This was clearly disproven by the discovery of the Howard de Walden commission which up to that point was not thought to extend beyond The Chess Players (Tate), Lavery’s Chantrey purchase from the Royal Academy in 1930. 

Kenneth McConkey