System Number: 01147
Date: 9 August 1882
Author: Marcus Bourne Huish[1]
Place: London
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler F79
Document Type: ALS
THE FINE ART SOCIETY,
148, NEW BOND ST. W.
9. Augt 1882.
My dear Whistler
I called upon you in Tite St a day or two back about the plates of Venice[2] which I understood [from] Mr Brown[3] you were anxious to hand over to us - I thought that we might at an interview perhaps get over the trouble which these printing of these plates has been to both of us - & by a little [p. 2] concession[4] on both our parts we might ease the friction which appears to have sprung up between yourself & the Society.
As matters stand, or rather stood when the business was last gone into, you felt that you ought to be paid for having printed the plates - & we felt that it was at your own wish that they had been printed by you [p. 3] & that they had already cost us a considerable sum, a very considerable sum as the printing of plates goes, for rent of room &c &c -
You said you ought to have £5. 5. 0 a set - though you had previously named £2. 2. 0 - Well we offered you this latter sum if you would print 10 sets more to bring up the total to 40 sets, & here the matter ended - Now half a loaf is [p. 4] better than none so couldnt we come to some arrangement such as this - You run up to Town for two or three days[,] print us an extra 20 sets or superintend their printing, & we'll pay you a hundred pounds - which reckoning by gones as by gones will be at your old rate - or if we dont reckon as such at once - What say you -
Before sending for the plates I await your reply[5].
Yours very truly
Marcus B Huish
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Notes:
1. Marcus Bourne Huish
Marcus Bourne Huish (1843 - d.1921), barrister, writer and art dealer, Director of the Fine Art Society [more].
2. plates of Venice
The plates for the first Venice Set, Mr Whistler's Etchings of Venice, 1880 (the first 'Venice Set') (K. 183-189, 191-195). (excat 5). See also M. B. Huish to JW, #01139, E. G. Brown to JW, #01140.
3. Mr Brown
Ernest George Brown (1853 or 1854-1915), assistant manager at the Fine Art Society [more].
4. concession
JW was in dispute with Huish over whether he should be paid for printing etchings (see JW to M. B. Huish, #01127, #02228, #01145 and M. B. Huish to JW, #01129, #01143, #01146).