Philip de László’s Royal Oops!
One particularly amusing anecdote involves Philip de László’s portrait of Queen Mary. Queen Mary, known for her meticulous nature and keen eye for detail, was not entirely satisfied with the initial rendering of her hands. She felt they were not quite as elegant as they could be.
De László, ever the professional, took Queen Mary’s criticism in stride and set about making the necessary adjustments. However, in his eagerness to please, he may have gone a tad overboard.
When the revised portrait was unveiled, Queen Mary’s hands were indeed more slender and graceful, but they were also noticeably larger than they were in reality. It seems de László, in his quest for perfection, had inadvertently bestowed upon the Queen a pair of rather imposing mitts!
The Queen, though initially taken aback, couldn’t help but chuckle at the artist’s overzealousness. The incident became a lighthearted joke within the royal circles, and the portrait, affectionately dubbed “The Queen with the Big Hands,” remained a testament to de László’s dedication to his craft, even if his enthusiasm occasionally got the better of him.
The story serves as a humorous reminder that even the most talented artists can sometimes stumble in their pursuit of perfection. And it also highlights the importance of a good sense of humor, especially when dealing with royalty!
The King, the Artist, and the Disappearing Mustache
Philip de László, renowned for his portraits of royalty and high society, once found himself in a bit of a hairy situation, quite literally.
Commissioned to paint a portrait of King Edward VII, de László was meticulously capturing every detail of the monarch’s likeness, including his impressive mustache. However, the king, known for his impatience, grew restless during the lengthy sittings. One day, in a moment of boredom, he decided to play a prank on the artist.
As de László stepped away from the canvas to mix some paints, the king slyly reached for a pair of scissors and snipped off a portion of his mustache. When the artist returned, he was aghast to discover the alteration.
“Your Majesty!” he exclaimed, “What have you done?”
The king, unable to contain his amusement, burst into laughter. “A little trim, my dear de László, a little trim,” he chuckled.
De László, ever the professional, managed to keep his composure. He carefully retrieved the severed mustache hairs and, with remarkable skill, reattached them to the canvas, seamlessly restoring the king’s facial hair to its former glory.
The portrait was completed to great acclaim, and the king was delighted with the result. However, de László never forgot the incident, and it became a favorite anecdote among his circle of friends. The story of the king, the artist, and the disappearing mustache served as a lighthearted reminder that even the most dignified figures could have a playful side, and that a good sense of humor was essential in navigating the often-unpredictable world of portraiture.
Philip Alexius de László MVO RBA was an Anglo-Hungarian painter known particularly for his portraits of royal and aristocratic personages. In 1900, he married Lucy Guinness of Stillorgan, County Dublin, and he became a British subject in 1914.