FDA-P.124-2010
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.124-2010
Object type
Identification
Title
H.R.H. Prince Prajatapok [Prajadhipok]
Title Type
assigned by artist
Description
Half-length portrait of a boy, wearing a grey coat and white collar
Comments
Born in Bangkok and privately tutored in Siam, Prince Prajadhipok’s arrival at Eton in 1908, at the age of 14, was undoubtedly a cultural shock for the young boy. Within his first half at Eton it was reported that the prince “seems to quite understand” the English language, although he found Latin more difficult to master. He worked diligently though and excelled during his brief time at Eton, inspiring admiration from his tutor, George Lyttleton, who described him as “a very pleasant little boy with plenty of character”. Prajadhipok was only 16 when he left Eton to attend the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich for the next two years.
As the youngest son of King Chulaonkorn, Prajadhipok had never been expected to succeed to the throne, but he was nonetheless crowned King of Siam in 1926. Curiously, given that it must have been a time of great upheaval for him, he seemed to remember his time in England with affection. In 1928 he made a donation to the college, which paid for the new garden between College Field and the Provost’s garden. Prajadhipok returned to Eton in 1934 for a visit. After his abdication the following year, he moved to England to live in Surrey, where he died in 1941.
As yet, no information has been found on the circumstances of the painting of Prajadhipok’s leaving portrait. It may have been a gift to the College from the parents of the sitter. This work, by the successful royal British portraitist John St Helier Lander, is a captivating likeness of a young future monarch.
As the youngest son of King Chulaonkorn, Prajadhipok had never been expected to succeed to the throne, but he was nonetheless crowned King of Siam in 1926. Curiously, given that it must have been a time of great upheaval for him, he seemed to remember his time in England with affection. In 1928 he made a donation to the college, which paid for the new garden between College Field and the Provost’s garden. Prajadhipok returned to Eton in 1934 for a visit. After his abdication the following year, he moved to England to live in Surrey, where he died in 1941.
As yet, no information has been found on the circumstances of the painting of Prajadhipok’s leaving portrait. It may have been a gift to the College from the parents of the sitter. This work, by the successful royal British portraitist John St Helier Lander, is a captivating likeness of a young future monarch.
Description
Content (person)
Dimensions
height (sight size): 675mm
width (sight size): 550mm
height (frame): 860mm
width (frame): 730mm
width (sight size): 550mm
height (frame): 860mm
width (frame): 730mm
Inscription
Signed and dated, left hand corner: 'John Helier Lander / 1910'
Title painted on upper edge of canvas
Title painted on upper edge of canvas
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Gilt frame,flat frieze decorated with sand on gesso
Production
Person
Lander, John Helier (Artist)
Date
1910
History and association
Object history note
Provenance: purchased by J. N. M. Page[?] in c.1987; by whom taken to Bangkok in 1987-90; collection of Eton College
Exhibited: 'New Faces: Unexhibited Portraits from Eton's Boarding Houses', Verey Gallery, Eton College, 27 April to 23 September 2019; 'Humphrey Ocean: Fresh as Paint', The Verey Gallery, Eton College, 9 June to 30 October 2022, catalogue number 7
Exhibited: 'New Faces: Unexhibited Portraits from Eton's Boarding Houses', Verey Gallery, Eton College, 27 April to 23 September 2019; 'Humphrey Ocean: Fresh as Paint', The Verey Gallery, Eton College, 9 June to 30 October 2022, catalogue number 7
