UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

System Number: 05574
Date: 8 June 1888
Author: Alfred Stevens^[1]
Place: Paris
Recipient: Horace Henry Cauty^[2]
Place: London
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler S220
Document Type: MsLc^[3]

Copie

à Mons. le Secrétaire de la Société Royale des British Artists - London

Monsieur -

J'ai l'honeur [sic] de donner par les presentes, ma demission à la "Société Royale des British Artists" -

Je crois en même temps convenable de faire savoir a la Société que les raisons de cette action se trouvent dans le ridicule evident dont elle vient de se couvrir en consentant de propos déliberé à perdre, à mon avis, tout sens artistique, en méconnaissant la dignité qu'elle avait conquise dans le monde de l'Art, et qu'elle pouvait seulement conserver par la présence à sa tête, du grand artiste, auquel elle vient de preferrer une personne inconnue et estimable ^{renoncer -} . -

J'ai l'honeur, Monsieur, d'être
Votre très humble serviteur

Alfred Stevens -

Paris

le 8 Juin. 1888.

This document is protected by copyright.

Translation:

To the Secretary of the Royal Society of British Artists - London - JW

Dear Sir

I have the honour to give you with this present letter, my resignation from the Royal Society of British Artists -

I believe it appropriate at the same time to make it known to the Society that the reasons for this action are to be found in the evident ridicule with which it has just covered itself in consenting deliberately to lose, in my opinion, all artistic sense, in ignoring the dignity which it had achieved in the world of Art, by the presence at its head, of the great artist which it has just renounced -

I have the honour to be, Sir, your very humble servant

Alfred Stevens -

Paris

8 June 1888.

Notes:

1.  Alfred Stevens
Alfred Émile-Léopold Stevens (1823-1906), history and portrait painter [more]. This was written in JW's hand on Stevens' behalf (see JW to A. Stevens, #08137, #08138).

2.  MsLc
#09375 is a subsequent version of this letter. The final version was published in Anon., 'Mr Whistler and the Society of British Artists,' Pall Mall Gazette, 1 August 1888, p. 13. See also A. Stevens to Royal Society of British Artists, #05575.

3.  Horace Henry Cauty
Horace Henry Cauty (1846-1909), historical and genre painter [more]. This relates to the Annual General Meeting of the Royal Society of British Artists which took place on 4 June 1888. JW had hoped to defeat a proposal (#05321) circulated by eight RBA members to force him to resign as President. However, when the matter was put before the council for the second time (an earlier meeting on 12 May had failed to depose him), he was defeated and Wyke Bayliss (1835-1906), painter and architect [more] was elected in his place. This resulted in a large exodus of JW's supporters, including Stevens (see Minutes of the RBA, #13402). (see Dorment, Richard, and Margaret F. MacDonald, James McNeill Whistler, exhibition catalogue, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1995, pp. 49-55)