System Number: 04237
Date: [25 March 1900?][1]
Author: JW
Place: Paris
Recipient: William Marchant[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler M507
Document Type: ALS[3]
[Chatham coat of arms with motto:] BENIGNO NUMINE
HOTEL CHATHAM
PARIS
PARIS,
Sunday - 1
Dear Mr. Marchant -
I wish now - for hitherto I have had no time to enquire - that you would tell me what is all this that you have been exhibiting without a word of request or warning to me! -
The proceeding is most unusual - and the fact of your not even sending me a catalogue, would seem to intimate that you yourself feel it to be so! - Does not the "Gold Scab[4]" belong to Mr. Jacomb Hood[5]? or is it for sale? - What is[6] the [p. 2] Young Girl's head[7] you have - and to whom does it belong? - and the little marine[8]? or landscape?
About the photograph Portfolios[9] - I am quite willing that you should transfer the management to the other house here - but you might see to the complete settlement of our account first -
This in great haste -
Very faithfully
J McNeill Whistler
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [25 March 1900?]
Dated from the almanac and by the possible reference to an exhibition, which was reviewed in the London Times on 26 March 1900 (see below). 25 March 1900 was a Sunday but the letter may date from a subsequent Sunday.
2. William Marchant
William Stephen Marchant (1868-1925), art dealer [more].
3. ALS
Published in sale catalogue, Christie's, New York, 18 October 1988, lot 1643.
4. Gold Scab
The Gold Scab (YMSM 208) was exhibited at Spring Exhibition, Goupil Gallery, London, 1900.
5. Mr. Jacomb Hood
George Percy Jacomb Hood (1857-1929), genre painter and graver [more], purchased The Gold Scab from his frame-maker who had bought it at a sale. In 1892, he declined an offer of £800 for it (JW to H. Whistler, #06716). In December 1892, the dealer Alexander Reid negotiated to exhibit the picture (A. Reid to JW, #05148). However it was not sold until some years later, when exhibited at Goupil's.
6. What is...
JW continues the letter from this point to the end with a different pen.
7. Young Girl's head
Possibly Grey and Gold: High Tide at Pourville (YMSM 523), or other sparsely documented works such as Study of a Girl's Head and Shoulders (YMSM 486) or The Bridesmaid (YMSM 487).
8. marine
Possibly Grey and Gold: High Tide at Pourville (YMSM 523).
9. Portfolios
An album of photographs of JW's paintings, mostly those exhibited in Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces, Boussod, Valadon & Cie, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892. Marchant was working for Goupil's (Boussod, Valadon & Cie.) at this time.