System Number: 05708
Date: 26 March 1892
Author: David Croal Thomson[1]
Place: London
Recipient: JW
Place: [Paris]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler T53
Document Type: ALS
[royal coat of arms]
THE GOUPIL GALLERY
BOUSSOD, VALADON & CO.
116 & 117, NEW BOND STREET, W.
TELEGRAMS, - BOUSSOD, LONDON.
London
March 26th 1892.
Dear Sir,
Many thanks for your letter. The person who spoke of £450 or so for the Music Room[2] was Lawrie[3] of Glasgow who wanted to buy a picture by you - any one - for about that price - We do not think he had any special buyer & now he declares he is off it altogether. We quite understand the [p. 2] advantage to you & to ourselves of keeping up the prices & this has been our aim all along. At the same time if we sell to a dealer who will himself sell at a profit it could not be to the hurt of either. If Lawrie buys for £450 he wont sell under £600. We have put him on Mr Coronio's[4] 'Chelsea Reach' & may be he will buy it, & it will be about the price down but nothing is settled.
Catalogues. We shall order them as we require them. About £20 have been sold. Note about 'Third Edition' is duly taken.
[p. 3] Mr Jones R A.[5] This is the argument. A small-minded man would not come at all. A mean-minded man would have come & pretended he was of the same opinion. He did come paying his money (for no one happened to see him enter) & stopping a long time & was evidently well pleased with what he saw. On dit[6] for he did not say so openly that he is much vexed to see his old opinions come to daylight again! So also is it said of Wedmore[7] who goes about saying 'But I have been a Whistlerian all my life!'
Academicians. Few have been here, Brett[8], D. Murray[9], G H Boughton[10], Jones
[p. 4] Letters. We really do not like to repeat the silly things ignorant people say. A single word of appreciation is worth a volume of stupidity. Why listen to the braying of the ass? It is a good idea never to look at a bad picture nor listen to the crude ideas of a fool.
Season Ticket sent to Sir C. Wyke[11] K C B.
Today. Has been crowded all day & in many cases people looked into the gallery & went away saying they would come back when it was not so crowded. Over 600 have paid to-day.
Yours vy truly
[stamped:] BOUSSOD VALADON & CO.
D C Thomson
MANAGER
J McN Whistler Eq
Potters[12] address is
J. C. Potter Eq
Villa Beau Frere
Pau
S. France
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. David Croal Thomson
David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), art dealer [more]. This is a reply to JW's letter, #08354. He had organised Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces, Boussod, Valadon & Cie, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892.
2. Music Room
Harmony in Green and Rose: The Music Room (YMSM 34).
3. Lawrie
Thomas Lawrie of Thomas Lawrie and Son, painters, decorators and art dealers.
4. Mr Coronio's
Aglaia Coronio (1834-1906), née Ionides, wife of George Coronio [more], had acquired Grey and Silver: Old Battersea Reach (YMSM 46).
5. Mr Jones R A.
Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898), painter and designer [more].
6. On dit
Fr., 'It is said'.
7. Wedmore
Frederick Wedmore (1844-1921), art critic [more].
8. Brett
John Brett (1830-1902), painter of coastal scenes and landscapes [more].
9. D. Murray
David Murray (1849-1933), landscape painter [more].
10. G H Boughton
George Henry Boughton (1833-1905), painter [more].
11. Sir C. Wyke
Sir Charles Lennox Wyke (1815-1897), KCB, diplomat [more].
12. Potters
John Charles Potter (1854-1920), wallpaper manufacturer and collector [more]. The remainder of the text is added at the top of page one.