Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976) Field Marshal

Location

Country: USA
City: Washington DC
Place: British Embassy

At the time he painted this portrait,  Dwight D Eisenhower was Supreme Commander of NATO, and Montgomery was appointed under him as Deputy Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces of NATO in Europe in 1951. Eisenhower has captured something of the celebrated British Field Marshal Montgomery’s intelligence, humour and sharp personality in this portrait. Shown in uniform and wearing the Decoration Ribbon of Liege of Merit, Montgomery’s expression is one of typically quizzical, slightly sardonic amusement.

Eisenhower painted this portrait in Paris and gave it to Montgomery, inscribing it on the reverse ‘Field Marshal Monty from his friend Ike, 1952' S showing a friendly deference to the older soldier. This was the same year that Eisehower won the US elections, beginning his tenure as the 34th president of the United States in January 1953. 

Eisenhower and Montgomery fought together during the Second World War. Having defeated Rommel, the German Commander in North Africa in 1942, Montgomery fought with the Eighth Army in Sicily and Italy under Eisenhower, as Supreme Allied Commander. The two men did not however always share the same views on tactics, and Montgomery returned to England as commander of the 21st Army Group, in preparation for the invasion of Europe in 1943.

Mr Walter Annenberg, the US Ambassador to Britain, purchased this portrait from a sale of Montgomery’s paintings (which included one by Churchill) at Sotheby's in London in 1969. Mr Annenberg kindly presented the portrait to the British Embassy in Washington in 1970, to mark the close co-operation between the two countries, particularly during the Second World War.

People

Bernard Law, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein Montgomery (1887 - 1976)

Places

Subjects

male portrait, moustache, man, 20th century costume, military uniform, epaulettes, necktie, Viscount, field marshal

Materials & Techniques

canvas, oil, oil painting

Artist

Dwight D Eisenhower (1890 - 1969)

Title

Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887-1976) Field Marshal

Date

1952

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

height: 49.50 cm, width: 59.50 cm

Acquisition

Presented by Walter Annenberg, January 1970

Inscription

bl: DE verso: To my friend Monty from Ike

Provenance

Collection of Field-Marshal the Viscount Montgomery of Alamein; by whom sold through Sotheby's, London, 'Modern British Drawings, Paintings and Sculpture' sale, on 26 November 1969 (Lot 261), for £2,800; from which sale purchased by Walter Annenberg; by whom presented to the Department of the Environment in January 1970

GAC number

8733