Sir Oswald Birley

Original canvas. The surface is slightly dirty and should benefit from cleaning; otherwise in good overall condition. UV light reveals a few small flecked retouchings along the lower edge. There also fluoresces a vertical line along the lower left edge but this appears to correspond to a streak of varnish rather than retouching. Held in a gilt plaster 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."

During his lifetime Sir Oswald Birley held a prominent place as a leading portrait artist, which has been lost sight of today. He was highly feted amongst the royal family and became well-known for his portraits of King George V, Queen Mary, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the present monarch Queen Elizabeth II. Other distinguished commissions included Prime Ministers Stanley Baldwin, Neville Chamberlain, Clement Atlee and Sir Winston Churchill, a personal friend whom he painted with and tutored on trips to the south of France. The opulent studio at Sir Oswald's house in St John's Wood (fig. 1) hints at the high society circles in which he operated.

His great artistic influence was William-Adolphe Bouguereau, whose work he admired while studying at the Académie Julien in Paris. On his return to London he studied at St John's Wood School of Art in the company of Sir William Orpen and James Pryde, and he continued his career in the artistic tradition of John Sargent, who had led the way with stylish portraits demanded by the well-to-do and celebrated.

Sir Oswald's wife was Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike, an Irish beauty and the subject of many of his portraits; together they were the highest of haute bohemia. They had a passion for the theatre and were patrons of the Ballet Russes, for whose performances the sitting room at Charleston, their house in Sussex, was specifically built and a host to many social evenings. Growing up in such an artistic environment, it is easy to imagine how some of this creative flair must have informed in some part Mark's own distinct aesthetic and eye for detail.

Frederick Lewis, 1st Baron Essendon (1870-1944), was a shipping magnate elevated to the peerage in 1932. He served as Director of Furness Withy & Co., based in Hartlepool, and in 1919 led a consortium to buy the company, which became a leading business in the shipping industry.