Sir William Orpen, R.A., R.H.A. (Stillorgan 1878-1931 London)
Lot 363 Property of a Distinguished Corporate Collection

Sir William Orpen, R.A., R.H.A. (Stillorgan 1878-1931 London)

Portrait of Sir Louis Bernhard Baron (1876-4934), seated three-quarter length in a grey suit

Closed17 August 2016

Price Realised

GBP 6,250

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Sir William Orpen, R.A., R.H.A. (Stillorgan 1878-1931 London)
Portrait of Sir Louis Bernhard Baron (1876-4934), seated three-quarter length in a grey suit
signed 'ORPEN' (lower left)
oil on canvas
40¼ x 34¼ in. (102.3 x 87 cm.)

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 10 May 2007, lot 86, where purchased by the present owner.

Specialist note

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Sir Louis Bernhard Baron (1876-1934) was the oldest son of Bernhard Baron. Orpen painted Sir Louis in 1926, Bernhard Baron in 1927 and Sir Edward Baron, possibly Sir Louis' brother, in 1930. All were one time heads of Carreras, the cigarette manufacturer. These commissions may have been dear to Orpen's heart as the artist was a heavy smoker, and their company manufactured his favourite brand of cigarette, Piccadilly No. 1. He even produced an 'unsolicited' testimonial, as a skit on the 'His Master's Voice' logo. It comprised a drawing in which he featured Mr Funny, his dog, which was not totally unlike Nipper, the HMV dog. Entitled Carreras, His Master's Scent, Orpen states the following: "'Unsolicited Testimonial' (and unpaid for!) Dear Sirs, for thirty years I have smoked Virginia cigarettes - but never have I tasted any of them so good as your Piccadilly No. 1. Yours truly William Orpen".