The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
The Family Collection of the late Countess Mountbatten of Burma
Portrait of Michael Herbert Rudolph Knatchbull-Hugessen, 5th Baron Brabourne (1895-1939), half-length wearing the uniform of the Royal Naval Air Service
Auction Closed
March 24, 08:41 PM GMT
Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Philip Alexius de László, P.R.B.A.
1869-1937
Portrait of Michael Herbert Rudolph Knatchbull-Hugessen, 5th Baron Brabourne (1895-1939), half-length wearing the uniform of the Royal Naval Air Service
signed and dated lower right: P.A. de László/1914 Nov. 17 and signed by the sitter lower left: Michael K.-Hugessen.
oil on board
91.5 x 71.5 cm.
Michael Knatchbull (later 5th Lord Brabourne) was the son of Cecil, 4th Lord Brabourne and his wife Helena von Brunningen. Born in 1895 he was just 19 when this portrait was painted at the outbreak of the 1st World War. He joined up immediately as his education at Wellington College and the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich gave him the necessary military experience and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery. He served in the Gallipoli Campaign the following year attached to No. 3 Squadron, Royal Naval Services. He flew flying artillery spotting missions and was promoted to Lieutenant. In September 1915 he was mentioned in Dispatches and awarded the Military Cross. The following year he was seconded to Staff duties as an aide-de-camp until 1918 when he joined the fledgling RAF.
This portrait was painted in 1914 by de László, then at the height of his international fame. Other commissions that year included The King of Greece, Queen Olga of Greece and the former British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour.
We are grateful to Katherine Field for writing a catalogue entry for this lot which is available upon request. This portrait will be included in the Philip de László catalogue raisonné, currently presented in progress online: www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com