artist

The present item is a puzzle. Farington joined the Incorporated Society of Artists at the age of twenty-one, and played an active part in its affairs until his resignation in 1773.

On one side of a 5.5 x 20 cm strip of laid paper, cut away from the bottom of a letter. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, with traces of mount adhering to the reverse. Reads, in a firm attractive hand: 'Yours very sincerely | John Hassall.'

On one side of an 8 x 10 cm piece of paper, cut from the bottom of a letter. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Reads: '[...] being that very many things demand my attention that have already waited too long. | Yrs. sincerely | Frank Dicksee'.

2pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper with small pin-holes to one corner. 'Mr. H. Clarence Whaite is a part time art master in this School. [...] He succeeds in stimulating an interest in art & has conducted parties of boys over the Dulwich Gallery with that end in view. Of course the post he holds here does not offer much opportunity for the exercise of his powers either as an artist or a teacher of art & he is therefore justified in seeking a position more in accordance with his qualifications.' From the Whaite papers. Whaite was first cousin twice removed of his more famous namesake.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. 28 lines of text. In fair condition: aged and a little ruckled. Docketed 'The Woodcutters' (a theme around which Linnell produced several paintings). Linnell writes that he has just received Lawrie's 'half note for £5 - and will not fail to attend to your wishes about The Verification'. He explains that he usually requires, in addition to the fee, 'an assurance that I shall not be called upon personally to give evidence respecting the work said to be mine.

Three pages, 12mo, bifolium, sl. staining ( remnants of laying down process on album leaf), good condition. He has sent a copy of his latest book to Gurney ("A Salad of Stray Leaves" (pub. 1882), with illustrations by his friend Phiz, Hablot K. Browne, who died in the year of publication). It's "to be published on Monday. | I find so little todo with the chisel that I am fain to employ my pen." The family is holidaying in Margate, and the air is having a beneficial effect on his son's health.

Two pages, 12mo, bifolium, ford marks, good condition. "I have at last done what you wished to the picture & hope you will like it. I have directed it to be packed & sent to you at once, & shall be glad to have a line from you to say it is all right. [...]" Note: George Gurney's art collection was auctioned in 1903. It contained two pictures by Vicat Cole, including a "View of the Thames".

3pp., 4to. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with slight smudging to outer margins of both leaves. Addressed to 'My dear Jack'. He is pleased to have heard from Driberg, but disappointed that there is 'no immediate chance' of seeing him, as he has not 'strayed from home for moons.

Total 3pp., 12mo, fold marks, pinholes in two,good condition. The letters illustrate how difficult it was to get money out of Driberg. [28 May] Ayrton is about to go to America and must "gather all available resources to keep things going here [...] Could I therefore have some of the money owing for the portrait of Constant? All of it would be splendid but even some would help." [7 June] He thanks Mrs Driberg for payment of half. [6 Feb.] "Forgive my bothering you but I am a bit pressed for money at the moment and you still owe me half the price of the Lambert portrait whihc is Twenty Pounds.

One page, 16mo, spike-hole, mainly good, complete and clear. "I believe the copyright of my drawings which appeared in the P.M.B. [Pall Mall Budget] belongs to us. I made a distinct arrangement to that effect with regrad to drawings I made for the P.M.[Pall Mall] Magazine, altho' I made no agreement (in writing) either way with the 'Budget', the Manager would, no doubt' be able to tell you."

1p., folio. Fair, on lightly-aged paper; with staple- and punch-holes in left-hand margin. Docketed in pencil, at head 'file Oliver MESSEL', and at foot '2/XII/52'. He thanks him for 'your charming messages [...] about the designs for the Glyndebourne brochure', which were 'given me by Vagn' (Messel's partner Vagn Riis-Hansen). 'For the one design ie.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Watermarked 'JOYNSON | 1876'. Fair, on lightly-aged paper, with minor staining from mount at foot of second leaf. Written in a hasty, untidy hand. The recipient appears to be 'My dear Hornby', 'Horley' or 'Howley'. Faed writes that he is 'slaving away chopping and changing sometimes worse and sometimes better (I hope) on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. 7th.

2pp., 4to. Fair, on lightly-aged paper. He thanks her for her 'kind letter and transcription letters', and will be 'grateful to receive prints of your drawings by William Havell. Truly, those at the V. & A. are not very good, and I feel sure that there are much finer ones in existence.' He was 'amused by Auntie Jane's letter to her nephew', and will 'try and come down to Reading to see your Havells later on'. He would also like to see those of 'Mrs. Wilson'. He considers 'Luke Havell's children - a very gifted family'.

4pp., 12mo. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He gives his 'best thanks' for his correspondent's 'watchful kindness'. As his 'acquaintance with Academicians is very limited', he has 'not yet solicited any one to propose me at the R.A.', and he 'would gladly accept Mr. E. M. Ward's obliging offer - and think Mr. G. D. Leslie or Mr Dobson would second me'. He made 'such a mistake' the previous evening, by going to the Vestry Hall, Chelsea. He found, 'on reading the circular again how I had erred'.

Watercolour, c. 23 x 9.5cm, inscribed "FOR ELIZABETH .... FRON. JESSIE.M. KING". It was the centre-pages of a small autpograph album belonging to Elizabthe Hood, daughter of J. C. F. Hood, sometime Chaplain of HM Forces, and Helen Patuffa Hood, née Kennedy-Fraser, noted collector of Hebridean songs. Perhaps a Scottish arts connnection between King and the Kennedy-Frasers? A scan may be found on my website.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged grey paper. Fildes explains that he has just returned from Paris to find his correspondents' letter of 19 May, inviting him 'to hear Mr Du Maurier's discourse to-morrow night'. He cannot avail himself of the 'great pleasure', and of their' 'courtesy', as he has 'an engagement which cannot possibly be put off'. He ends by apologising for not answering sooner. On 25 May 1892 The Times reports a lecture that day at 'Prince's Hall: Mr. Du Maurier on "Social Pictorial Satire," Mr. Alma-Tadema, R.A., in the chair, 9.'

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. Good, on lightly-aged paper, with thin neat strip of paper mount at head of third page.

12mo, 3 pp. On bifolium. Clear and complete. Good, on lightly-aged paper. She has 'finished the brown drawing of elves, & birds singing', and, as she is going into the country for a few days, will leave it, 'in a portfolio', at Stratton St. She asks him to 'kindly take care of it', as he has been 'good enough to do with the others. It is, as you know, a very careful & highly-finished drawing'. She asks him to have 'the delicacy of the lines reproduced, & the drawing of the limbs of the little elves, etc. very carefully & exactly rendered, otherwise the drawing wd.

Dimensions of card 14.5 x 11 cm. Bifolium. Good, on lightly-aged paper. Cloudy print of landscape on recto of second leaf, signed in pencil 'R Macaulay Stevenson'. Neat pen inscription on recto of first leaf: 'My dear brother-artist Sassoon and dear Madame Sassoon this is just from Stansmore and myself to wish you a Merrie Christmas and a Happy New Year | [signed] R Macaulay Stevenson | Kirkcudbright | Yuletide 1934'.

The collection is in very good condition, containing four items of autograph correspondence from Ruszkowski to Shaw, all signed 'Zdzis'. One: Autograph Letter Signed. Undated. 8vo, 3 pp. Expressing his extreme disappointment with 'the proposed arrangement of the double-page and the suggested treatment of the illustrations. 'Nearly one third of the drawing [sic] is left out and alters the sense of the theme. Each illustration is composed to stress the situation and can't be mutilated at the will to suit the arrangement at the page.

Not bound, 27pp., folio, first and last leaf, and another, loose, others conjoined, somewhat stained, main body presumably lacking leaves but covering the period 18 September 1933 to 24 May 1934, typed title and headings for columnised pages, c.39 entries per page (many names repeated, visitors and members signing in): Date | Visitor's Name | Address | Members Name. A club which catered to the theatre and arts, but usually at the level of people whose fame has not survived them But there are a few interesting names.

Apart from the card (12mo, 1 p), totalling 4to, 10 pp; 12mo, 2 pp. All items in good condition, with text clear and complete, on lightly-aged paper. All post-1960. Two of the eleven (20 January and 13 June 1974) are fully dated by Devas; another four have day and month. The card from 1960 is the earliest item; the three from Wetherby Gardens date from between this point and Devas's second marriage to Rupert Shephard in 1965, and the seven from Limerston Street from after the marriage. A good-natured correspondence, written in a chatty style.

Paper, 11 x 4cm, incudes name of address, To Mrs Warner., formerly laid down in an album, some remnants of process on reverse, showing through faintly not impinging on the signature, mainly good condition.

Paper, 11 x 3cm, formerly laid down in an album, some remnants of process on reverse, otherwise good condition.

Total 10pp, 12mo, good condition. Subjects: (1) as executor of a lady who by her will directs that a copy should be made of the portrait of her husband by the late Sir George Reid to the Aberdeen Infirmary . . .; National Gallery suggested her; he wants to fix up appointment to discuss; (2) agrees to her terms; discusses the house being locked up by Sothebys who are conducting the sale; (3) commission discussed; (4) discusses the circumstances which lead to his asking he to copy the picture in his house; (5) Aberdeen Infirmary happy with her work.

4to, 2 pp. 46 lines. Clear and complete. Good, on aged paper. He thanks her for putting the commission of 'Mr Proger' his way, discussing the circumstances. 'Just 3 days before I received his letter, while Molly & I were making some sort of order in the Augean Stable which is my lower studio, workshop & general storage place I came across this little panel (a view of Burleigh) which I had thrown asside [sic] as a dud.

Letter One: 12mo, 2 pp. Good on lightly-aged paper. The 'delightful drawing' she left for him is a 'wonderful surprise'. He has been 'trying some life drawing direct with the brush' and is surprised that she was able 'to put it down like that!' Letter Two: 4to, 2 pp. Fair, on lightly-aged and creased paper. He apologizes for the delay in answering her letter and thanking her for sending one on by 'Bloggins'. He is 'an abominable letter writer though that does not mean a change of feelings to one's old friends'. He has received a letter f'rom C. B. himself about the Academy'.

12mo, 2 pp. Twenty lines. Text clear and complete. In bifolium. On aged and discoloured paper, with small closed tears along central fold lines of both leaves. A reference, 'bearing testimony to your perfect efficiency as a teacher of landscape painting possessing, as you do, the first and greatest requisite, namely a power to sketch beautifully from nature, your success should not be short of great. [last word underlined]' Apologises for not answering sooner, caused by 'the loss of your card'. From a small archive of Walter F. Stocks's correspondence.

16mo, 1 p. Bifolium. Eight lines. Text clear and complete. On stained, aged paper. An uncommon autograph, written in a distinctive stylised hand in purple ink. Reluctantly announcing his inability to go on 'the Barge trip', which he had looked upon 'as the pleasantest excursion of the year, & alas & alas (not that a lass has any thing to do with my engagement) I shall be unable to be with you'.

12mo, 2 pp. Good, on lightly-aged paper. He is sending a cheque for thirty-five pounds for 'Skirving's picture of my mother with which I am well pleased', which he 'got from the Hall porter at the Reform'. Reports that the picture 'has been exposed to a very serious risk of entire destruction, the plate-glass having been shivered to pieces in the packing case. Wonderful to say, the damage done is confined to the dark & unimportant parts of the drawing'. When Grahame 'heard the broken glass rattling in the Box', he had 'no hope of the picture being sound'.