Overall: 36cm (14.2in) x 28cm 11in)
Quarter length presentation studio portrait by the sitter’s good friend ‘Baron’, facing forward. Signed and dated in the lower mount in ink in Prince Philip’s hand ‘Philip / 1949’. Presented in modern frame with a letter verso under glass dated Clarence House, 18th November 1949 coveying the Duke of Edinburgh’s gratitude to charity organiser Kirkland Bridge for work undertaken on behalf of the National Playing Fields Association, and signed by Philip’s ‘partner in crime’, Equerry-in-Waiting and Thursday Club regular Lieutenant-Commander Mike Parker. Moreover ‘Baron founded the Thursday Club and often hosted parties in his Mayfair flat, where blue-bloods met showgirls, and introduced Philip to this bohemian circle.’ One of the few photographs in existence of the club’s lunches, was one taken by Nahum in November 1947, at a gathering to toast Philip on his engagement to the future Queen.
Stirling Henry Nahum (1906-1956) ‘a fast-living photographer, of Italian-Libyan parentage’ made a name for himself in the 1930's photographing ballet dancers. After the war he concentrated on society and celebrity portraits. As close acquaintance of Prince Philip, he was appointed as Court Photographer to the British Royal Family, and took the official photographs for many occasions such as the wedding of Philip to Princess Elizabeth in 1947, the christenings of their children Charles and Anne and other occasions. Put forward in 1953 by Prince Philip to provide the official photographs of the Coronation, he was to be disappointed. The appointment of Cecil Beaton was preferred by the Queen Mother.