Keynes recommends Duncan Grant, one of the 'Bloomsbury Group' artists and known for slightly experimental work, as someone to consider as portraitist of Ward. Keynes mentions that he has seen a picture by McEvoy (a favoured candidate) but that in his opinion McEvoy's style is 'old fashioned'. Keynes speaks of the need, nevertheless, to satisfy the 'subscribers' (those who are contributing to the cost of the portrait). Of course, McEvoy was eventually awarded the commission.