Lloyd George Addressing a Liberal Rally at Waddesdon, 14 July 1928
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Oil painting of Lloyd George addressing a Liberal rally at Waddesdon held on 14 July 1928. The view is taken from under the striped red and yellow awning covering the speaker's podium. Dorothy and James de Rothschild and another man and woman sit behind Lloyd George standing at the lectern. Dorothy wears a purple hat; the woman's hat is orange. The lectern supports papers and a microphone. To the right of the lectern is a loud speaker. A large crowd is gathered in front of the podium. In the background, there are nine large canvas tents and the wooded hill at Waddesdon. a few people stand on the hill. In the right foreground, Lloyd George appears again in head-and-shoulders length, facing the viewer. He has his mouth open and raises his right arm out in a rhetorical gesture.
A political rally took place at Waddesdon in July 1928, when James de Rothschild was campaigning to take the MP's seat in the Isle of Ely for the Liberal party. The painting shows the commanding figure of David Lloyd George twice in order to show the crowd and position the viewer as if they too were attending the rally. It reflects the influence of James de Rothschild that enabled him to attract such a speaker to Waddesdon.
This portrait combines the Irish painter John Lavery's ability to record events, with his interest in the aristocratic life of the 1920s. Already an established portrait painter and Official War Artist, Lavery spent the years between the wars travelling extensively and painting 'portrait interiors' of wealthy and famous people, as well as leisure subjects such as horse-racing and swimming. These works often depicted the luxury trappings of high society, representing people through things. This painting could be described as a 'portrait exterior' that uses politics to comment on his sitters, rather than objects. Lavery spent several weekends at Waddesdon with his wife. Lavery had trained in Paris where he was influenced by the work of the Impressionists, a technique evident in this painting, used to capture the light and colour of this sunny summer's day.
James de Rothschild won the seat in the election of 1929, and held onto it until 1945. He was considered to be one of the most wittiest members of the house. Although born in France, he attended Cambridge University, married the English Dorothy Pinto in 1913 and applied for British citizenship. After he inherited Waddesdon in 1922, he became increasingly involved in the political and social life of the area.
David Lloyd George had been a politician since the last years of the 19th century and was Prime Minister between 1916-1922. He showed great energy as a war leader during World War I but his government fell over the Chanak crisis. In 1926, he became the leader of the Liberal party and funded candidates and research into reducing unemployment. Despite James's win, the 1929 election was disappointing for the Liberals, they only marginally increased their support. Lavery later painted an informal portrait of Lloyd George writing his war memoirs in 1934.
Phillippa Plock, 2011
Dimensions (mm) / weight (mg)
495 x 595 (sight size)
Signature & date
signed and dated, lower right: 14th JULY - 1928. ~ Lavery
Marks
[canvas stamp]
Stamp
centre centre
Inscriptions
MR LLOYD GEORDGE / AT WADDESDON / 14th JULY - 1928. ~ Lavery
Inscription
lower right
[Priarale?] Passage [offert?] Door... No. 2
Inscription
upper left to upper right, on stretcher
Language
English
Provenance
- Probably commissioned by James de Rothschild (b.1878, d.1957); inherited by his wife Dorothy de Rothschild (b.1895, d.1988); given to Waddesdon (National Trust) in 1971.
Collection
- Waddesdon (National Trust)
- Gift of Dorothy de Rothschild, 1971
Subject person
- David Lloyd George, Pictured
- James de Rothschild, Pictured
- Dorothy de Rothschild, Pictured
Person as Subject
- George, David Lloyd (b.1863, d.1945)
- Rothschild, James de (b.1878, d.1957)
- Rothschild, Dorothy de (b.1895, d.1988)
Subjects
- Figures/Female
- Figures/Group
- Figures/Male
- Portraits/Female
- Portraits/Group
- Portraits/Male
- Everyday Life/Marching or Demonstrating
- Nature, Landscape & The Elements/Trees & Plants
- Work & Occupations/Governance & Public Administration/Politician
- Work & Occupations/Social Rank/Nobility
- Work & Occupations/Social Rank/Middling Classes
- Objects/Furnishings/Chair or Sofa
- Objects/Clothing & Personal Effects/Glasses & Spectacles