William Orpen
William Orpen
Times and needs change and thus over the last century various paintings have been sold from Highclere either to pay taxes or to support lifestyles post World War One. Every so often we hear of one such painting coming back onto the market and, if we can, we buy it back. Thus a few years ago Geordie discovered that a painting of the 5th Earl’s daughter, Lady Evelyn Herbert, was being auctioned. Due to Covid challenges it had not sold and we were able to step in to buy it.
It is such a striking portrait of a lovely girl, (the topmost photo) painted in about 1915 therefore during the First World War, by a most remarkable artist, William Orpen (1878-1931).
Orpen was born in Dublin, Ireland, growing up in a large rambling house with parents who both drew although his father was a solicitor. Following art school in Dublin he moved to London to study at the Slade and in the years before the First World War became a successful and much-admired portrait painter. His marriage and love life were equally colourful and by 1914 he was the most famous artist in London.
Apart from society portraits, he also painted several group portraits - conversation pieces were very popular - most notably the Cafe Royal in London and scenes from Dublin beaches, moments of family happiness caught on sandy beaches with sea winds and summer light.
When the First World War broke out Orpen stayed in London to support the British war effort and in March 1916 was commissioned into the Army Service Corps. That year he also painted a very despondent Winston Churchill. Through a friend both of his and the Carnarvons, the Quartermaster General of the British Army General Sir John Cowans, Orpen got himself promoted and sent out to France with indefinite permission to remain at the Front.
Orpen arrived at the Somme shortly after the German forces had pulled back to the Hindenburg Line. Every day he would set off to sketch the scenes of ravaged lands and broken lives whether they were German prisoners or Allied troops. In 1917, he also painted portraits of both General Lord Haig and Sir Hugh Trenchard the commander of the Royal Flying Corps, images which were widely reproduced to bolster morale in all the newspapers. In 1918, he was knighted for his efforts.
As the war continued, Orpen became evermore mentally exhausted and his works became increasingly theatrical and more allegorical. An exhibition of his work in May 1918 entitled WAR was the talk of London and attracted over 9000 visitors. He later donated all the works which had been on display to the British government on the understanding that they should remain in their white frames and be kept together as a single body of work.
The Imperial War Museum then commissioned Orpen to stay in France and paint three large group portraits of the Paris Peace Conference in Versailles. Throughout 1919 he painted individual portraits of the delegates and these formed the basis of his two large paintings, one set in the Quai d’Orsay and the other in the Hall of Mirrors. In the latter the architecture overwhelms the gathered politicians and statesmen whose political squabbles diminished them in Orpen's eyes: the peace they were trying to put in place is metaphorically distorted in the mirrors and the world leaders occupy little more than a quarter of the composition.
Orpen composed the work with Haig and Marshal Foch at the centre with the other delegates around them. He also included two additional figures, a Grenadier Guards sergeant and the young fighter pilot Arthur Rhys Davids whom Orpen had painted just before he died.
Nine months later Orpen painted over all the figures and replaced them with a coffin covered by the Union Jack and flanked by two ghostly and wretched soldiers clothed in rags, with two cherubs above them supporting garlands of flowers.
Orpen was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1921. An exhibition of his work drew on his 1921 memoir, An Onlooker in France, in which he wrote of the horrors he had experienced on the Somme and explored a selection his aftermath paintings as expressions of his struggle to comprehend the profound human trauma of the war.
In later life, Orpen returned to painting society portraits but the war, ill health and increasing dependence on alcohol took its toll and he died aged 52 in 1931.
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64 Comments
Thank you for your very powerful story about the artist William Orpen and his connection to the Carnarvon family.
So beautiful, I'm glad you could get it back.
fondly Jenny
Lovely the pictures of William orpen did you and lord Carnarvon have a nice and l am fan of Downton Abbey and l lovely highcelere castle
I'm so glad you were able to bring back a piece of family history! Thank you for all the information about William Orpen! I so look forward to your posts, as I will never have the opportunity of visiting Highclere in person.
Thank you for all you are doing to preserve the house and its' history.
Sincerely, Nancy Lingerfelt
Newport Tennessee, USA
This week has been a unique blog, with those paintings, quite fascinating. How fortunately you were able to bring them back to you. I will look at them often on my iPad. Thank you for sharing these for us.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for this most compelling story. How art is interwoven into our history as a people is often forgotten, and when your family story is part of it, it elevates the artwork, the family and our place in history. Has someone written a book about such artwork from your family's perspective? And how many artists have done their rendition of the castle? That would generate interest.
I thank you!
Dear Lady C, This blog entry is so interesting. It showcases lots if pretty art. I really love Mondays because I always look forward to your blog. Your blog and Instagram makes me so happy.
How wonderful that you are able to re-acquire some of the artwork that belongs to the family and home.
It is through these works, and companion writings, we gain some small understanding of the history and horror of war that he lived through.
Thank you for the additional information about the artist, and the circumstances by which the paintings had to be sold. What a terrible thing to have to part with treasures in order to survive. Seems so wrong somehow. But, then again - so does war.
Very interesting column
What a wonderful article. Orphan did so much in his short life. I'm so glad you were able to bring back home the portrait of Lady Evelyn.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
What an amazing story of a creative life touched by the horrors of war. I had not heard of William Orpen until today. Very talented man. Beautiful paintings. Again, thank you for the history lesson. Take care.
Susan
Fascinating history of not only military service during the Great War, but also using your surroundings, no matter how grim, to create beauty. Thank you for sharing this. I long to spend time at Highclere again soon. I am even featuring our visit there for the 100th anniversary of King Tut's discovery on my blog Put a Pin in It.
Thank you for introducing us to an extraordinary painter! Will I be able to view his works at the National Gallery? His story is very poignant as he saw and experienced war first hand thus suffered from PTSD.
What a fascinating and unforgettable story. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you Karen.
Thank you Nancy, I appreciate your kind sentiments.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Thank you Charlotte. I'm glad you enjoy the blog so much.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Hello Ada,
You will find many of his paintings in The Imperial War Museum as opposed to the National Gallery.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Thank you Cheryl, I look forward to reading it.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon.
Hello Donna
Nobody has written a book from the family's perspecive although the Guide Book details a lot of the paintings. The guide book is available in the gift shop and on-line. It's impossible to say how many artists have painted the castle over the years but as you can imagine it is quite a few.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Lady Carnarvon,
This writing is a lovely tribute to Orpen. His painting of young Lady Herbert is so wistful; the battlefield uses such interesting blues and pinks; and the painting of the Hall of Mirrors is both like a photograph - the men gathering, and more somber - the casket. The casket painting is beautiful - looking all the way down the long hall to the cross. Interestingly, I could not find the gaunt soldiers and the cherubs. In any event, his work is clear and beautiful Thanks for the artist’s history and pictures.
Martha G.
Thank you for sharing. Such a young age to die, but to have seen so much life and death takes a toll on soldiers.
Impressive history information again of a person connected to Carnarvon members & Highclere Castle. High level talent and accomplishments of such a young person, too bad he couldn't live longer to continue on his interests & talents, but did leave behind so much valuable history items.
Thank you, lady Carnarvon! Stunning portrait and a fascinating story. How distorted would the mirrors be had Orpan gathered today's World politicians. Thank you for introducing him to us! Elizabeth
Dear Lady Carnarvan,
What a fascinating bit of history! The paintings are wonderful. He was a very talented artist. How fabulous that you and Lord Carnarvan were able to reclaim a lost family portrait! I look forward to your blog every Monday and also now follow your Facebook page.
Hauntingly beautiful.
Thank you Cynthia
How fascinating a story to behold, and fortunate that you were able to bring this back to Highclere.
We have a pencil drawing of a seated young girl by Orpen but sadly no name for her, despite us trying to find out. Maybe I should try again!
Well done and good luck with more returning to the fold.
I am so happy that a painting that belongs at Highclere has returned home. Is this painting currently on display within the castle? I enjoy your Monday posts so much, and look for them each Monday morning.
A fascinating post. And wonderful that you have been able to find and return to Highclere Castle all the fine and beautiful artwork. Your information about the artist is very interesting and I look forward to hearing more about all Highclere's artwork.
so beautiful story and drawings THANK YOU
Hello Jody
Yes the painting is on display in the drawing room.
Best wishes
Lady Carnarvon
Lady Carnarvon...........I am curious as to the number of William Orpen's painting you have in your collection. Just as with the Mona Lisa, Orpen's portrait of Lady Evelyn leaves you to wonder what
was reflected in her expression. Thank you for putting a spotlight on Mr Orpen's life and works.
How fortunate for Highclere that you and Lord Carnarvon were able to get a painting back that is part of the family history. As an art lover and traveler I am aware that so many fine works of art have come to American museums from England in the past for the very reasons you mention. Fortunes of the grand houses come and go and it takes custodians like you to maintain and improve the treasures of your surroundings for others to also enjoy and to have a fuller picture of the history of such places. Thank you for the wisdom you both have in taking such good care of Highclere!
So interesting. Thank you
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
So moving the story of William Orpen. We don’t often hear about artists and their valued contributions during wartime. Congratulation's on the return of this beautiful piece! I find it so interesting, and so fortunate that documented family art becomes available from time to time. I’m assuming there’s an actual list of art that was sold off over the years, or are you just notified from time to time when a new one finds its way to the market? What a thrill it must be when a painting is returned to the collection!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ARTICLES!
Best wishes, Michael Sloboda, Ontario Canada
I was not familar with William Orpen; thank you for another informative and beautiful insight to his life. And his artistic contributions, not to mention his service to his country, are well appreciated. It sounds as though he lead somewhat of a tragic life. May he rest in peace.
How wonderful that you were able to find and reacquire the Lady Evelyn painting. William Orpen was so talented. We saw some of his works at the Imperial War Room last fall. Such raw emotions and chaos expressed!
Thank you again for an enjoyable and enlightening post.
Sincerely,
Katie Beeh
Oregon, IL
Dear Lady Carnarvon, many thanks for the very interesting post regarding William Orpen. It was most interesting I so enjoyed seeing husband paintings and am glad you were able to regain the beautiful portrait of Evelyn Herbert.
How very interesting ,thank you so much ,
We were lucky!
He was extraordinary ...
it was a restless challenged life
it is amazing - very proud of my husband for finding it!
Thank you for your kind words!
It speaks both of the subject and the artist
How interesting - what date?
Brilliant metaphor!
You can see his anguish in the war paintings - his sadness and anger
Dear Lady Carnarvon, thank you so much for your post. I really enjoyed it, as I just pulled your wonderful book on Lady Almina off our bookshelf the other day to reread it and am up to June 1917 and Passchendaele. It's lovely to put this information together with what I'm reading. Your writing is entertaining (I use that term advisedly!), in that you make us just want to keep reading till we finish your article. And it helps that we've seen D.A. so many times, we know the dialogue and can picture Highclere so clearly. And I'm going to read about Lady Catherine next!
Your books are so well written, it seems we can almost put ourselves in your scenes. Thank you for taking time to share your lives and history with us. Having exhausted WW2, I now want to learn more about WW1; the impact must have been terrible, especially with the effect it had on WW2 coming right after (so it seems from this distance).
Thank you again. Best wishes and blessings to you and your family, Amy Crane
Thank you so much
Thanks for sharing the history and the paintings. I really enjoy your interesting insights .
Pity poor Orpen!
I am. Guide at Carrick Hill in South Australia, formerly the home of Edward and Ursula Hayward who left their home, its collection and the land surrounding it to the people of South Australia. The collection includes the painting “The Good Samaritan” by William Orpen. It was wonderful to read about Highclere’s connection.
MY LOVELY LADY FIONNA,
GOOD MORNING , FROM RIO CLARO, BRAZIL
ANOTHER DREAM OF MINE COME TRUE ,WOW WOW WOW, DREAMING ABOUT THE PAINTING OF THE CASTLE.........
THANK YOU ,VERY VERY ,MUCH.
HAPPY SUMMER MILADY FOR YOU AND THE EARL AND THE STAFF TOO.
CHEERS.
VILLA ALEMA
RIO CLARO-SP
BRAZIL.
..
yet such empathy
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
A quick thank you for sharing the story of this wonderful artist. I admit to never having heard of him here in Australia, but I intend to do a bit of reading about him now.
How wonderful for your family that you are again able to own such a lovely work. It must be a great joy for you all.
As a new subscriber, an owner of your books and a past visitor to your wonderful home, I look forward with much eagerness, to all your future posts.
Kind Regards
Kerryanne
Bonjour, de très belles histoires de votre famille, je vous souhaite de rapatrier les peintures et de les exposer dans votre demeure.
Hello, very nice stories from your family, I wish you to repatriate the paintings and exhibit them in your home.
You are very kind - I find his paintings extraordinary
So pleased to see that you was able to obtain the painting back. When I visited Highclere back in April this year it broke my heart talking to one of curators about artifacts especially the Egyptian ones having to be sold off to cover taxes. It is so wrong that people and estates to this day are still being hit with death tax which only adds to peoples heartbreak in such difficult times. It is all wrong. So it was lovely to read that there are some things you are able to get back to where they belong. I loved visiting Highclere and will definitely return in the future. In the meantime it is great to see such a beautiful home and it's contents feature in Downton Abbey.
Best regards
Amy,
Coincidence... I plucked Lady Catherine off my shelf early this week and am enjoying it immensely. I agree Lady Fiona indeed writes well and engages the reader with story telling quality. I'll be looking back now, to place Lady Evelyn more firmly in my mind. There are several Evelyn's.
Julia
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I am fascinated by this Mr. Orpen's artwork, never having come across him before. Even better that you have managed to reclaim one of his that originally was at Highclere of Lady Evelyn Herbert. I can only imagine having to decide which possessions to part with to keep the lights on. (So much English history disappearing under our noses, which, even while being overseas, is still noticable). Thank you for your lovely blogs, and have a good week.
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog and for the brief and interesting history of Artist, William Orpen.
I am glad that the Carnarvon family was able to reclaim the beautiful portrait of Lady Evelyn.
Until next time, I wish you all the best.
Perpetua Crawford
Thanks for this!