Presentation Portrait of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 1928

ArchivePrintsSigned Prints

Jun 19

Written By RORY LEWIS

Acquired from: The Armoury of St. James's, 17 Piccadilly Arcade, London SW1Y 6NH - 24th September 2025

Overall Dimensions: 46cm (18in) x 34cm (14in)

Presentation Portrait of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, 1928 (Heroes in Focus Archive)

About the Work

This full-length portrait photograph of Sir Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig of Ypres (1861–1928) was taken by Bassano in Field Marshal’s full dress uniform, complete with baton in his right hand. The image bears a facsimile ‘Haig F.M.’ signature lower right.

The lower mount is autographed and signed by Dorothy, Dowager Countess Haig, inscribed: “In remembrance of my husband, Dorothy Haig 1928.” It is presented in a period glazed frame fitted with a silver arched plaque:

“Presented by Countess Haig to Commander H.M.L. Scott, R.N. to remain in H.M.S. Spey whilst the ship remains in full commission.”

HMS Spey was a P-class Sloop, launched in 1916 and broken up in 1937.

Historical Context

In August 1929, a party of sailors from HMS Spey led a march past of veterans on the Ross of Mull after Lady Haig opened a village hall to serve as the headquarters of a newly formed branch of the British Legion.

Dorothy Haig, a tireless campaigner for veterans, dedicated her life to continuing the work of her late husband. She first met Douglas Haig in 1904, when he was the youngest major-general in the Army, while she was a guest of King Edward VII at Windsor Castle. Their whirlwind courtship culminated in a wedding at Buckingham Palace’s private chapel in July 1905.

Dorothy, daughter of the 3rd Baron Vivian (British ambassador to Italy) and Louisa Alice Duff, served as Maid of Honour to Queen Victoria (1899) and later Queen Alexandra. During the First World War she worked with the Red Cross and was appointed a Lady of Grace of St John of Jerusalem. Her biography of her husband, The Man I Knew, was published in 1936.

Archive Note

This portrait was acquired by the Heroes in Focus Foundation in 2025 as the first historical acquisition in our expanding archive. The collection is housed at the Rory Lewis Studio in Los Angeles and may be visited by appointment. Works from the archive are also available for loan to museums and galleries.

ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS OR SIMILAR ITEMS

ArchiveWorld War OneDouglas Haig, 1st Earl HaigSecond Boer WarMahdist WarThe Hon. Dorothy Maud Vivian

RORY LEWIS

Winner of the Portrait of Britain in 2017 and 2018. Lewis is a dedicated portrait photographer who has spent over a decade capturing many of the world’s most recognised faces. Sitters have included the likes of William Shatner, David Cameron, Sir Derek Jacobi, Iain Glen and Natalie Dormer. Rory’s images have been exhibited on both sides of the Atlantic, and several of his iconic portraits have been acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in London. His recent project, ‘Soldiery’, which documented the British Army of the 21st Century, was completed over a two year period and has been hailed as a national success story, named by the BBC as ‘The changing face of the British Army’. Rory divides his time between London and Los Angeles, working with a wide variety of clients. In addition to his projects and private portraits, his photography has been commissioned by Pepsi, Universal, the British Army, The Times, The Guardian and Cancer Research UK, among others. Rory draws immense inspiration from the masters of art including Hans Holbein the Younger, Titian, Caravaggio and Jusepe de Ribera.

http://www.rorylewis.studio