Bamber Gascoigne’s favourite painting
The quizmaster chooses a poignant de László portrait
Four years ago, I inherited unexpectedly, from my great-aunt Mary, Duchess of Roxburghe, a large Grade I-listed house of great beauty near Guildford called West Horsley Place. I hardly knew the house, but when I first walked into it as its owner, I discovered many paintings relating to my family. My favourite among them rapidly became this beautiful, but unashamedly sentimental portrait of the Duchess’s brother at the age of about three. Jack, as he was known, was a beautiful boy and obviously greatly adored. The house is full of images of him. However, the story ends sadly– he died at the age of 11, in 1922. We are now taking tours round the house and this image is part of a family display (www.westhorsleyplace.org)’