Lot Essay
This was the first portrait painted by de László of the three children of Mr and Mrs Pandia Calvocoressi. Born in Karachi (1912-2010), Peter was the eldest child of a Greek mercantile family who originated from Chios in the Aegean. The Calvocoressis and their relatives, the Argenti, Ralli and Lambrinudi families were considerable patrons of de László. Educated at Eton and Oxford University, at the outbreak of the Second World War Calvocoressi joined the RAF in an intelligence role becoming Head of Air Intelligence at Station X, the top secret headquarters at Bletchley Park. Their code-breakers cracked Germany’s Enigma cipher, thus making a significant contribution to ending the war by intercepting orders from German high command. Calvocoressi also published a number of books on history and foreign affairs.
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
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