System Number: 06172
Date: 13 December 1892
Author: William Webb[1]
Place: London
Recipient: Beatrix Whistler[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler W169
Document Type: ALS
GEO. & WM WEBB.
11, AUSTIN FRIARS, OLD BROAD STREET,
LONDON
E. C.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 1282.
13th Decr 1892
My dear Niece
There can be no question about it. Mr Bancroft[3] can have no claim whatever [two illegible words] in the matter. He outreached himself and was outbid. His price was £600 and £650 were paid to Caravafy[4] [sic]. I think Mr Whistler is the man entitled to the pictures[5] if Mr Kennedy[6] wishes to sell [p. 2] them cheap or give them away, the man whose judgement on them has been verified & above all the man who created them.
Surely if there is any morality in the matter it is incomparably in favor of the man who painted these valuable masterpieces & received only a trifle for them. He is the man who ought to have their full value now that the golden age of morals is returning - What claim has Mr Bancroft? What has he done? Has he [p. 3] designed or worked at them? Has he paid any money for them?
He has neither invented worked nor done anything whatever, except tried to do a shabby thing. There is no morality for him and there is a huge pile of it against him.
If I were Mr Whistler I should object most strongly and Mr K should be made to understand that in addition to the above mentioned moralities in favor of the painter, there is that in favor of Mr Whistler as the [p. 4] man whose judgement enabled Mr Kennedy to make the handsome profit he is doing.
But I doubt whether Mr K is really mad as you put it & in the way of letting Mr Bancroft have the pictures for less than can be got elsewhere for them. I suspect another bargain accompanying, an exchange of pictures & cash, or the purchase of other painter's pictures from Kennedy at more than their value & a low price for these or something of that sort, to the advantage of Mr K, who may be willing for that reason to give Mr Bancroft an apparent triumph & an apparent moral victory - This suspicion seems horrible, but is not Kennedy a dealer? If so the thing is impossible except in combination with another transaction[7]
Kindest Regards
Your affect. uncle
I keep letters till you write again as you may want me to refer to them again.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. William Webb
William Webb (b. ca 1851), of G. and W. Webb, lawyer [more].
2. Beatrix Whistler
Although webb addresses this letter to his 'dear Niece' and signs himself 'Uncle', the content makes it clear that the recipient is Beatrix Whistler (1857-1896), née Beatrice Philip, artist [more]. See also #06177.
3. Mr Bancroft
John Chandler Bancroft (1822-1907), politician, diplomat and collector [more]. This letter relates to Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville (YMSM 64) which Cavafy sold to Kennedy for £650 in June 1892. It was eventually sold on to Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924), née Stewart, collector [more] in November 1892 for 600 guineas. Se Bancroft's letter to E. G. Kennedy, 11 December 1892, #09844.
4. Caravafy
Dr John Cavafy (ca 1839-1901), physician and collector, son of G. J. Cavafy [more].
5. pictures
The Last of Old Westminster (YMSM 39), Battersea Reach (YMSM 45), Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony (YMSM 56) and Harmony in Blue and Silver: Trouville (YMSM 64).
6. Mr Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), dealer with H. Wunderlich and Co., New York [more].
7. with another transaction
'apparent ... with another transaction' was written at right-angles to the main text in the right-hand margin. 'I keep ... again' was written at the top of p. 1.