Le Chef de l’Hôtel Chatham – William Orpen | Collector’s Edition

Le Chef de l’Hôtel Chatham (1921)

Sir William Orpen (1878–1931)

Le Chef de l’Hôtel Chatham (1921) is one of Sir William Orpen’s most celebrated and technically accomplished portraits—a tour de force of modern realism and monumental portraiture. Painted at the height of Orpen’s powers, the work elevates its subject, not a nobleman or politician, but a working chef, to a stature traditionally reserved for society’s elite.

The painting depicts Eugène Grossrieter, known as “Chester,” second chef at the Hôtel Chatham in Paris. Orpen presents him standing confidently before a dark, undefined background, his hands planted firmly on his hips, exuding authority, pride, and quiet swagger. The immaculate white of the double-buttoned jacket and pleated toque is rendered with dazzling precision, each fold and crease catching the light with sculptural clarity.

Orpen’s virtuosity is especially evident in the still-life elements: the reflective glass, the bottle of stout—Chester’s preferred drink to keep cool in the kitchen—and the raw chops laid out before him. These passages display a level of painterly control that recalls the influence of Velázquez and Manet, artists Orpen deeply admired, while remaining unmistakably modern in execution.

Submitted in 1921 as Orpen’s diploma work to the Royal Academy of Arts, this large-scale oil painting (127 × 102.5 cm) was completed in Paris, where Orpen was based at the Hôtel Majestic. Although initially selected for acquisition under the Chantrey Bequest, it was ultimately deemed ineligible, as it had not been painted in Britain. The work nevertheless remains one of Orpen’s most iconic achievements and a defining statement of his belief that dignity, presence, and greatness are not confined to rank or title.

This Collector’s Edition reproduction faithfully preserves the dramatic contrasts, rich tonal depth, and extraordinary surface detail of the original, offering collectors an opportunity to own one of the great portraits of early twentieth-century European painting.

Collector’s Edition Print Details

• Artist: Sir William Orpen (Irish, 1878–1931)
• Title: Le Chef de l’Hôtel Chatham
• Date: 1921
• Current Collection: Royal Academy of Arts, London
• Edition Type: Collector’s Edition Fine Art Print
• Print Size: 40 × 50 cm / 16 × 20 in
• Paper: Museum-grade archival matte paper (acid-free, heavyweight)
• Printing: High-resolution giclée with archival pigment inks
• Finish: Unframed or professionally framed options available

Each Collector’s Edition print is produced to museum standards, ensuring exceptional longevity, colour fidelity, and surface detail—created for collectors who value Irish artistic heritage and masterful craftsmanship.