Sir William Hale-White

This portraitback to top

NPG 6692 shows Sir William Hale-White towards the end of his life. A chalk drawing by Sir William Rothenstein, it is the exception in a modest and predominantly photographic iconography. The circumstances leading to the commission are unknown; there is, however, a strong resemblance between the drawing and a photograph of Hale-White by Walter Stoneman, taken for the National Photographic Record in 1931 (see NPG x168048).

On long-term loan to the National Portrait Gallery from 1977 – when it was accessioned L168(4) – the drawing formed part of a group of eleven works lent by Sir John Rothenstein, the artist’s son. Sir John died in 1992. In 2005 the drawing became part of a larger collection of works by Rothenstein, offered to the Gallery in lieu of tax (AIL) from the estate of Sir John’s widow Elizabeth. When after successful negotiations these works entered the Collection, the portrait of Hale-White became NPG 6692.

See NPG Portrait Set 'Prominent men and women: drawings and paintings by Sir William Rothenstein, 1895–1939'.

Carol Blackett-Ord

Physical descriptionback to top

Head, three quarters to left, trim moustache, hair combed to left, collar lightly outlined.

Conservationback to top

Conserved, 2008.

Provenanceback to top

Coll. the artist; on loan to the NPG from Sir John Rothenstein, the artist’s son, 1977, L168(4); Treasury allocation: acceptance in lieu of tax from estate of Elizabeth, Lady Rothenstein, 2005.

View all known portraits for Sir William Hale-White