Lot Essay
George Charles Beresford (1864-1938), was one of the Irish Beresfords, the illustrious Waterford family of which Lord Charles, William and Marcus were conspicuous figures in the early part of this century. He was born in Cheltenham. His father was Henry Marcus Beresford and his mother Julia was a Maunsell. He attended the United Services College at Westward Ho! where he shared a room with Rudyard Kipling and was the original model for 'M'Turk' of 'Stalky and Co.'. He later studied art at the Slade School, with Sir William Orpen, Augustus John and Ambrose McEvoy, from where he became one of the most famous portrait photographers of his day. His sitters included members of the Royal Family, Auguste Rodin, W.B. Yeats, Joseph Conrad, Virginia Woolfe and George Bernard Shaw.
In 1936 he wrote 'Schooldays With Kipling' to much acclaim, and an unpublished and unstaged comedy, 'The Pagans'.
George Charles Beresford first met William Orpen at the Slade and appreciated his considerable talent from a very early stage. They became close friends around the turn of the century and Beresford took great trouble to support and promote Orpen as he struggled for recognition. Unfortunately Orpen's financial dependence on him placed a great strain on their friendship culminating in a row began in 1907 which erupted into legal proceedings in 1911, during which time Beresford was represented by Lawrence & Mavro. Solicitors. Orpen went on to achieve fame and fortune and although contact between the two was re-established in 1925, the friendship was never rekindled.
Some of these letters have the salutation 'Dear Professor' or 'Dear Prof.' because Orpen had jokingly given Beresford the title of 'Professor of World Strategy and Modern Painting etc.'. Several of the letters are complete with envelopes and stamps and all the postcards have stamps. Orpen frequentely sent undated letters to his friends and family and the pencilled dates were added by the recipient.
In 1936 he wrote 'Schooldays With Kipling' to much acclaim, and an unpublished and unstaged comedy, 'The Pagans'.
George Charles Beresford first met William Orpen at the Slade and appreciated his considerable talent from a very early stage. They became close friends around the turn of the century and Beresford took great trouble to support and promote Orpen as he struggled for recognition. Unfortunately Orpen's financial dependence on him placed a great strain on their friendship culminating in a row began in 1907 which erupted into legal proceedings in 1911, during which time Beresford was represented by Lawrence & Mavro. Solicitors. Orpen went on to achieve fame and fortune and although contact between the two was re-established in 1925, the friendship was never rekindled.
Some of these letters have the salutation 'Dear Professor' or 'Dear Prof.' because Orpen had jokingly given Beresford the title of 'Professor of World Strategy and Modern Painting etc.'. Several of the letters are complete with envelopes and stamps and all the postcards have stamps. Orpen frequentely sent undated letters to his friends and family and the pencilled dates were added by the recipient.