System Number: 00744
Date: 27 February 1901
Author: John James Cowan[1]
Place: Edinburgh
Recipient: JW
Place: [Ajaccio, Corsica]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler C245
Document Type: ALS
27 Feb 1901
WESTER LEA,
MURRAYFIELD,
N. B.
Dear Whistler,
I wonder if you will make head or tail of these suggestions[2]?
You have a wonderful memory, but my attempts may be misleading.
One of the artmen noticed your Nocturne[3] - instead of "Gold and Grey" as "Cold and grey", but whether he meant to be witty or [p. 2] the printer's devil to be wicked I don't know & it doesn't matter!
Always Your's
J. J. Cowan
If you are in doubt about any of these, I shall be glad to try to clear matters.
[Five pencil and ink sketches enclosed, on five separate numbered sheets.]
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. John James Cowan
John James Cowan (1846-1936), paper manufacturer and collector [more].
2. suggestions
Cowan enclosed five or more rather tentative pencil and ink sketches (there may have been more as they are numbered up to nine) of JW's works. In a previous letter (#00743), he had been trying to check the identity the works in his collection. 'No 3' is Red and brown - Hoxton (M.1004); 'No 4' is The Angry Sea (YMSM 282); 'No 6' is Chelsea Shop (YMSM 374); 'No 7' is The Little Nurse (YMSM 443) and 'No 9' is The Bridesmaid (YMSM 487) with the attached note: '(This panel is a little bigger than the others)'. Cowan has written 'from Reid' on the verso of nos 3, 6 and 7 and 'Reid' on the verso of no. 9. In #00743, JW identified most of the works.
3. Nocturne
Nocturne: Grey and Gold - Chelsea Snow (YMSM 174).