System Number: 05778
Date: 11 May 1893
Author: David Croal Thomson[1]
Place: London
Recipient: JW
Place: [Paris]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler T123
Document Type: ALS
[Royal coat of arms]
THE GOUPIL GALLERY
BOUSSOD, VALADON & CO.116 & 117, NEW BOND STREET. W.
TELEGRAMS, - BOUSSOD, LONDON.
[stamped:] REMOVED TO
5, REGENT STREET, S. W.
AND
10, CHARLES STREET,
ST JAMES'S, S. W.
London
11 May 1893
Dear Sir,
I have received your long letter[2] & contents about S. F.[3] & will show the paper about, discreetly.
You may always rely on me to back up any thing against S. F. for he is a scoundrel & a real pest of artistic society. His clever wife[4] has [much?] [p. 2] deteriorated for she really was clever once. But I never trusted her & she knew it & hated me heartily. I came between her & her schemes in several ways at very awkward times & it is no wonder she dislikes & even fears me (!) Poor Woman & the last time I saw her was to help her as an act of charity for she was in terrible straits she said about two years ago.
When I tell you that I was complimented [sic] by Mr Boussod[5] as the only one in this firm who did not lose his head about her, you will understand something of the position.
[p. 3] About a year ago S. F. wrote about me in Galignani[6] in connection with some literary work that 'Mr T. keeps a paint shop in Bond St' - as if that were a [safe note?] had it been true. So at least I was told & Hitchcock wanted me to reply, but I did not care one way or another & went on never minding.
I do not think S. F. is writing for the Pall Mall[7], but will try to find out [judiciusly?]
The 'Sarasate[8]' is in place since Monday & we cannot photograph it at present
This house will be shut tomorrow [p. 4] on account of the funeral in Paris of M. Adolphe Goupil[9] who has died at 87 - He established the Goupil business in 1827. - 66 years ago!
Business here very very quiet
Yours very truly
D. C. Thomson
J. McN. Whistler Eq
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Notes:
1. David Croal Thomson
David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), art dealer [more].
3. S. F.
Sheridan Ford (1860-1922), poet, critic, politician and writer on art [more].
4. His clever wife
Mary Bacon Ford, née Martin, art agent [more].
5. Boussod
Etienne Boussod (fl. 1885-1919), Paris art dealer and publisher, of Boussod, Valadon et Cie [more].
6. Galignani
Galignani's Messenger. In #08234 JW had boasted to Thomson how he had had Ford kicked off the Galignani's staff.
7. Pall Mall
The Pall Mall Gazette; see #12658.
8. Sarasate
Arrangement in Black: Portrait of Señor Pablo de Sarasate (YMSM 315).
9. Adolphe Goupil
Adolphe Goupil (1805?-1893), founder of Goupil and Co., art dealer [more].