[Cropped letter from William Orpen to Mrs St George with a self-portrait of the artist]

Handwritten letter which has been cropped removing the top half of the letter. In the section that remains Orpen informs Mrs St George that 'Asquith did not turn up'. Below is a sketch of the artist, illustrating how he feels as he is writing this letter.

(1909)

Ink on paper

Orpen painted Herbert Asquith's portrait 'The Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquith' in 1909.

Private Collection

Prints & Drawings Department

 

Asquith did not turn up
too much at the [Ritz] lunch I expect.
this is how I feel
Yours very sincerely
William Orpen

Sir William Orpen, Irish artist, born in Dublin, Orpen trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art before moving to London to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. He remained in London and became a highly successful portrait and subject painter. Appointed Official War Artist in 1917, Orpen left for France and was stationed at Amiens and the Somme Battlefields. He returned to London after the war and remained there until his death.

Florence Evelyn St George, eldest child of New York banker George F Baker. In 1906 while married to Howard Bligh St George she began a relationship with Sir William Orpen.