Walter Richard Sickert, A.R.A. (1860-1942)

The sitter is the youngest of the four daughters of the actor, Sir Johnstone Forbes-Robertson (1853-1937) and the American actress Gertrude Elliott (1874-1950). Diana Forbes-Robertson married the American writer, Vincent Sheen.

Sickert painted Sir Johnstone, a friend since his youth, in his most famous role, as Hamlet, by 1932, probably based on an old photograph as a testimony of friendship and admiration. Forbes-Robertson who was knighted in 1913 played Hamlet at the Lyceum in 1897 to wide acclaim and his final appearance on stage at Drury Lane was in this role. (See W. Baron, loc. cit.).