Until now the most commonly known fact in Hampstead, North-London related to Hungary was the house of architect Erno Goldfinger. However, while searching Hampstead properties I just found a so-called de László house, and after some digging it turns out to be originally the house of Philip de László,
born in Budapest as Laub Fülöp Elek, who made in career in England as the portrait painter of the aristocracy. Instead of the German name Laub the family first took the name László, were later enobled by the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef (hence his name László de
Lombos), while he also was named as honorary member of the Royal Victorian Order by King Edward VII. As a British citizen his full name was
Philip Alexis de László. Not only that but he also married into the Guinness family, and lived with his wife and family after 1907 in Hampstead until his death in
1937. His name and works fell into obscurity after the war, his paintings being rediscovered recently. Old film recordings to be seen here.
UPDATE 2016: on 22 November, his grandson Piers de Laszlo is in Budapest and talks family and painting!
UPDATE 2016: on 22 November, his grandson Piers de Laszlo is in Budapest and talks family and painting!