Gilbert Byng Alwyne Russell (1875-1942)
Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen KBE, RA, RHA (Stillorgan 1878 - London 1931)
Category
Art / Drawings and watercolours
Date
1924
Materials
Pencil drawing and watercolour on paper
Measurements
419 x 305 mm
Place of origin
Paris
Order this imageCollection
Mottisfont, Hampshire
NT 2900034
Summary
Gilbert Byng Alwyne Russell (1875-1942), half-length portrait, seated, turned and gazing to the right, arms folded and leaning on a table. Pencil and watercolour on paper, by Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen KBE, RA, RHA (Stillorgan 1878 - London 1931). Paris, 1924.
Full description
At Mottisfont Abbey, GIlbert and Maud Russell entertained a circle of artists, writers and politicians. Maud had portraits made of her by John Singer Sargent, Sir William Nicholson, Ambrose McEvoy and Henri Matisse (although she professed herself to be ‘horrified’ by how Matisse had depicted her). They also commissioned Rex Whistler to decorate the drawing room at Mottisfont in his romantic and whimsical style. This is one of only two known portraits of Gilbert Russell (the other is NT 1954199), and for this one he sat for Orpen in Paris in early 1924. From his wife Maud's engagement diaries, the couple arrived in Paris on 27 February 1924, staying at the Ritz Hotel and Gilbert sat on 28, 29 February and 1 March. They returned to the UK on 2 March suggesting the visit was largely for this commission. There is no indication that Orpen ever painted an oil of Gilbert Russell, and this appears to have been an informal, yet accomplished study, rather than a preparatory sketch for a formal oil portrait. [References to Maud's engagement diary provided by Emily Russell]
Provenance
Commissioned by Gilbert and Maud Russell, February 1924; With Guy Morrison, London (Inv. MJS/31 c.1987-1988); Private Collection, Canada; Waddington's, Toronto 13 December 2011, Lot 109 where purchased by the National Trust.
Makers and roles
Sir William Newenham Montague Orpen KBE, RA, RHA (Stillorgan 1878 - London 1931), artist