GENTLEWOMAN

Each letter 1p., 4to, Bickerstaffe-Drew's on reverse of Wood's. In fair condition, on aged leaf of paper with strip torn from head. The two letters cast an interesting light on English publishing practice in the late nineteenth century. Wood's letter, signed 'J. S. Wood', is written by a secretary, and addressed to 'The Right Rev Mgr Bickerstaff Drew'.

Printed in pastel colours on the shiny side of a piece of white sateen, roughly 405 x 255 mm. Dimensions of image 355 x 200 mm. Good, bright image, with a little creasing to the corners, one of which is a little dusty. Depicts a beautiful woman, in classical dress, with her arm around the waist of a pretty servant girl who is crowning her with a wreath of flowers in sumptuous marbled baths. On the wall behind the pair is a medallion with an inscription in Greek. In the style of Lord Leighton and his followers, characterised by William Gaunt as 'Victorian Olympus'.