Documents associated with: Whistler, Julia de Kay
Record 2 of 44
System Number: 06376
Date: 12 December 1848
Author: Anna Matilda Whistler[1]
Place: St Petersburg
Recipient: JW
Place: [Portishead[2]]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler W372
Document Type: ALS
Tuesday morning Dec 12th
Karitzkie[3] presented dear father with the portrait of his pupil & 'brat'[4] yesterday, it is hung up in the Chancelry[5] [sic], I dont like it as much as I do that by Dessein[6], now one would think Jemie dear, Mother & father[7] ought to be satisfied with each a picture of their boys, but the more we have the more we want, in this world of covetousness. Father wishes you to sit to a first rate Artist while you are in London that we may have a good picture with a perfect likeness & having heard me say Tom Smith, my little Scotch friends husband [8] & fathers friend the Engineer - [p. 2] had named one or two very skilful artists to me while in London, father bids me tell you to go to Mr Smith & ask the favor of him as soon as may be, to take you to whichever artist he has most confidence in; father is willing to pay £25 for a good painting. how delighted I shall be to pay the same for a match to this portrait when darling Sis[9] has the bright days of Spring to give the glow of health to her traits again! I am so very much hurried I write with no comfort, for it is a bad example to [p. 3] send you such a scrawl. Father sends love & will soon answer your letter. Mr Wm Winans[10] is here now every day & all day helping him in his office he will soon be passing thro England with his sister Julia[11] on their way to our native land & I hope may see you. I enclose a note just recd from Mary[12] tell her Willie[13] will write her in the holidays & I will in my first leisure. Tell Sis her friend Miss Henley[14] called on Saturday last to offer in her brother's name[15] for him to take any message or wee parcel to London, he set out last night & intends calling in Sloane St.[16], tho he has nothing to deliver from Mother, God bless you all, A Merry Christmas.
[p. 4] For Jemie
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. Anna Matilda Whistler
Anna Matilda Whistler (1804-1881), née McNeill, JW's mother [more].
2. Portishead
JW was at a boarding school at Portishead.
3. Karitzkie
Aleksander Osipovich Koritzkii, Professor at St Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts and court painter [more].
4. 'brat'
Russ., brat, brother, referring to William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900), physician, JW's brother [more]. Koritzkii had painted a portrait of JW and his brother; see AMW to JW, 4 and 5 December 1848, #06374.
5. Dessein
Probably Émile-François Dessain (1808-1882), painter and printmaker [more].
6. Chancelry
Probably a section of the Imperial Chancellery where the Railway Department was based.
7. father
George Washington Whistler (1800-1849), engineer, JW's father [more].
8. Tom Smith, my little Scotch friends husband
Tom Smith, engineer, and his wife Mary Smith; see AMW to JW, 4 and 5 December 1848, #06374.
9. Sis
Deborah ('Debo' or 'Sis') Delano Haden (1825-1908), née Whistler, JW's half-sister [more].
10. Mr Wm Winans
William Louis Winans (1823-before 1907), locomotive manufacturer and civil engineer [more].
11. Julia
Julia de Kay Whistler (1825-1875), née Winans, JW's sister-in-law [more].
12. Mary
Mary Brennan (b. 1825), AMW's servant [more].
13. Willie
William McNeill Whistler (1836-1900), physician, JW's brother [more].
14. Miss Henley
Miss Henley, AMW's friend at St Petersburg.
15. in her brother's name
Mr Henley, Miss Henley's brother of St Petersburg.
16. Sloane St.
62 Sloane Street was the London home of Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more].