Philip Alexius de László, PRBA, 
Hungarian / British 1869-1937- 

The Honourable Aline Partington, 1935; 

oil on canvas board, inscribed 'Study of Miss Parkinton' [sic] verso, bears old printed label 'The late Mr. P.A. de / Laszlo's Will Trust. / Master Phillip de Laszlo' attached verso, 40.3 x 32.6 cm. 

Provenance: 
In the possession of the artist on his death; 
By descent in his family. 
Christie's South Kensington, 13 June 1997, lot 59; 
Private Collection, UK. 

Literature: 
László, Philip de, 1935 diary, 17 January entry, p.3. 
Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 85: Aline E. Partington. Oct. 4th 1935. 
Studio Inventory, p.73 (390): Study of the Hon. Aline Parkington [sic]. 
The de László Archive Trust, 'The Catalogue Raisonné of Works by Philip de László (1869-1937) [online]', no.6510. 

Note: 
The finished portrait, for which this is a preparatory oil study, was begun by de László in January 1935. According to the artist’s diary, it was commissioned by the sitter’s paternal aunt, Mrs Alice Ann Sidebottom, possibly for her niece’s engagement to Sir Kenneth Weir Hogg, 6th Bt, whom she married in 1936. This commission seems to have challenged the artist as he destroyed two canvases before being satisfied with his third and final composition, which is almost identical to the present portrait. The finished portrait is untraced. 

Aline Emily Partington was born on 8 June 1907, the only daughter of Oswald Partington, 2nd Baron Doverdale, and the Hon. Clara Isabel Murray, daughter of Montolieu Fox Oliphant Murray, 1st Viscount Elibank. She is here shown seated three-quarter length to the right, her head turned to the left, looking full face to the viewer, wearing a white evening dress with a blue sash tied round her waist. 

We are grateful to Katherine Field for writing the catalogue entry for this portrait, which will be included in the Philip de László catalogue raisonné, currently presented in progress online: www.delaszlocatalogueraisonne.com (no.6510). 

An image of the finished portrait is displayed under image 4.