de László Archive Films Now Available

The de László Archive Trust has just released two DVDs on the life of portraitist Philip Alexius de László.  Both discs consist of moments from the artist's life between the years 1925 and 1937, as captured on 16 mm film by de László's sons, his assistant, and the artist himself.  The first film was shown at London's National Portrait Gallery in conjunction with the recent exhibition of de László's portraits, titled, An Air of Nobility... A Spirit of Humanity;  the second film features candid moments from the artist's life.  Each DVD is £25 (approximately $39), or both for £40 (approximately $63).

The description below is from the Archive's website.

In 1926, when de László painted the portrait of George Eastman, he was given out of gratitude one of the first motion picture cameras, the Ciné-Kodak model B, introduced in 1925. From then until de László’s death in 1937, the artist, his sons and his studio assistant, Mr. Harwood, filmed a unique record of his life and work on 16mm film, which was sent to America to be processed.

Portrait of George Eastman

About twenty hours of film have survived. It was first rescued and put onto VHS tape by one of the artist’s grandsons, Martin de Laszlo, who spent many hours with his uncle Paul and father John recording their commentaries. The VHS versions have since been digitised and two DVDs have been created, produced by Tim Gates and Georgie Grandy:

Philip de László, Life, Work and Travels, (shown at the National Portrait Gallery on 3 September 2010) captures the people and places Philip de László visited as well as many scenes showing him working in his studio and en plein air. The locations include Versailles, Budapest, Egypt, Oxford, Perth and his home, 3 Fitzjohn’s Avenue, London. Many of his patrons, with whom he was friends are represented: most notably Lord Devonport and the Duc de Gramont. The film also contains unique footage of Elinor Glyn. Her sister Lady Duff-Gordon lent a model from her fashion house “Lucile”, who de László painted, filmed by the Gaumont British Cinema Company (November 1928). This is included, together with him painting the bronze horses of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice (1926). Other sitters featured range from British and European royalty to Italian peasants; from Spanish dancers in de László’s garden to Bisharin warriors in Egypt.

Illustrated with still images of de László’s portraits and landscapes.
50 minutes duration, black and white, with commentary by two of the artist’s sons.

To see a preview click here



Philip de László, Family, Patrons and Friends, the second DVD, gives a closer view of the artist and his family's private life amongst their friends, many of whom were de László’s patrons, commencing at Baron Schröder’s home, Dell Park in Surrey. The film gives a window onto life in the artist’s circle before the Second World War, a lifestyle that was to be erased in the next decade; their past-times, fashions and modes of travel. In 1927 alone, the locations switch from Spain, to Berkshire, Cowes, Lake Zug in Switzerland, Scotland, Budapest and St. Moritz; with periods between spent in London and the English countryside. The sequences selected show more than a decade of hectic activity in family life and in de László’s work, played out between their home in Swiss Cottage and rented or friends’ country houses: days spent at Oxford and Cambridge Universities, with picnics and punting on the river; outings to Ascot and the Hendon Air Show and unique aerial views taken over Paris and over New York City.
This DVD is also illustrated with a number of still images of de László’s portraits, many of his family, and landscapes of some of the places in the film.

62 minutes duration, black and white, with commentary by two of the artist’s sons.

To see a preview click here