Lot Essay
Dion Clayton Calthrop (1878-1937) was the son of John Clayton, an actor, and Eve Boucicault, daughter of the dramatist Dion Boucicault (1820-1890). He studied at the St John's Wood Academy and then at the Académie Julian and Académie Colarossi in Paris, and went on to exhibit at the Royal Academy between 1900 and 1903, and at the Royal Institute. He also wrote and illustrated books on costume history and gardens. In his autobiography he recalls sitting for the present portrait at Sandys’ studio at 7 Holland Park Road.