De László was already one of the most famous portrait painters in Europe when he decided to settle in England in 1907. His relentless energy, charisma and pursuit of perfection in his art saw his circle of patronage widen from Budapest, the city of his birth, via the princely houses of Europe. London attracted him as a city immersed in a golden age and the work he produced there during the next thirty years was bursting with vitality and virtuosity. The period is brought to life through portraiture and landscapes and features a section on his experiences during the First World War.

The exhibition will feature rarely-seen loans from private collections as well as important works from the Royal Collection, including a childhood portrait of Queen Elizabeth II when Princess of York.