Guide to the correspondence and papers of Philip de László

Princess Marina of Greece, by Philip de László, 1934 - © de Laszlo Foundation.

Princess Marina of Greece, by Philip de László, 1934.
Private collection.
Photograph by Roy Fox Fine Art Photography.
© de Laszlo Foundation.

The correspondence and papers of the portrait painter Philip de László comprises over 16,000 items that were originally contained in 115 letter boxes and box files.  For archival purposes, the original boxes have been replaced by folders, which are contained in 54 archive boxes. 

The archive is arranged according to the filing system devised by de László and his secretaries, which was put into good order after his death by his widow. Arranged by series, correspondence was generally filed alphabetically within one or across a number of years.  However, early letters were often extracted from the arrangement and re-filed with later correspondence from the same source.

The correspondence and papers are arranged in the following series:

  • Personal correspondence 1892-1937 (26 folders)
  • Family correspondence 1921-36 (2 folders)
  • Hungarian and German correspondence 1893-37 (10 folders)
  • Spanish, Portuguese and Italian correspondence 1894-1936 (1 folder) US correspondence 1927-8 (1 folders)
  • Court (royal) correspondence 1895-1916 (2 folders)
  • Studio (portrait) correspondence 1891-1937 (46 folders).
  • Press cuttings 1915-33 (15 folders)
  • Exhibition correspondence 1920-36 (12 folders)
  • Selected letters, mainly royal correspondence, 1898-1935, removed from the above series before the papers were transferred to the National Portrait Gallery (1 folder)

The correspondence and papers have not yet been catalogued on the online Archive catalogue but an online index and preliminary list are available.

The archive can be consulted in the Public Study Room of the Heinz Archive and Library.  Appointments should be made by contacting the Heinz Archive and Library