William Howard Taft, Esq., a study

In March 1908 de László and his wife Lucy sailed to New York and travelled directly to Washington D.C. to paint portraits of President Theodore Roosevelt and his wife Edith, née Carow. Sittings took place at the White House and during one of these Howard Taft, then Secretary of State, brought some urgent papers for the President to read. The moment was recorded by the artist: “Having read the despatch [sic.] the President asked Mr Taft to wait a few minutes, saying that I had some very particular work to do. Mr Taft sat down in a corner and busied himself with his papers. ‘Now is your chance,’ whispered the President, and accordingly I promptly made a sketch of that massive head, catching Mr. Taft's attitude as he read.” The artist kept this sketch and is was recorded in the inventory of his studio after his death.

William Howard Taft (1857-1930) ran successfully for the Presidency the year this sketch was made and took office in March 1909.

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

The Hon. Mrs de Laszlo and a team of editors are compiling the catalogue raisonné of the artist’s entire oeuvre. Katherine Field is the British and North American Editor. Please see www.delaszloarchivetrust.com or contact catalogue@delaszlo.com for more information or to offer any contribution.