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Lot Essay
Robin Humphrey Legge (1862-1933) was the music critic of the Daily Telegraph between 1908-31. Like Orpen he was a Chelsea resident and member of both the Savile and Arts Clubs and they became friends prior to the 1914-18 War. The artist sent him a number of illustrated letters, the most interesting of which were those sent from Paris at the time of the Peace Conference in 1919.
Orpen had been commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to do three works surrounding the signing of peace. The commission led to A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay; The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919; and the controversial To the Unknown British Soldier, 1921-1928.
Orpen had been commissioned by the Imperial War Museum to do three works surrounding the signing of peace. The commission led to A Peace Conference at the Quai d'Orsay; The Signing of Peace in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles, 28 June 1919; and the controversial To the Unknown British Soldier, 1921-1928.