System Number: 07283
Date: 14 November 1896
Author: Edward Guthrie Kennedy[1]
Place: New York
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler W1271
Document Type: ALS
E. G. KENNEDY
G. DIETERLEN
[scroll:] H. WUNDERLICH & CO.
H W & CO.
RARE PRINTS
868 B'WAY N- Y-
Nov 14th 1896.
My dear Mr. Whistler,
I have heard nothing from you for a long time, so here goes for another effort. When are you going to send the pictures?
Now, the pink Girl[2], I suppose, is a grievance, or you dont Care about disposing of it or what is it? I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll take the "Sarasate[3]" instead of the pink girl, and you send me the black girl[4], whereupon I shall send you a cheque for £1500 /- /-. What do you say to that? I think [p. 2][5] you will say that I am easy to make a bargain with. I will also send you a cheque for £270 /- /- for the much talked of "Carmen[6]" which I expect to sell.
I am waiting for the pictures to get the exhibition under way and willing to do any thing in reason to that end.
Send me some of the shop fronts & I'll buy them if I can afford it.
I have not shown the pictures yet. Am keeping them to astonish the public. Why don't you lend a hand?
[p. 3] You were very friendly when I was in London, & I cannot understand your discourtesy to me now.
The "Sarasate", ["]Black Girl", Smith[7], and "Rose" for £2000 /- /- instead of the two full lengths & Rose & Smith. Or any two full lengths, any reasonable thing to get the other picture, pay for it and be done with it.
Regards to the ladies[8].
Drop me a line and drop "The gentle art[9]" for an hour or so to do it.
Sincerely Yours,
E. G. Kennedy.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), dealer with H. Wunderlich and Co., New York [more].
2. pink Girl
Rose et or: La Tulipe (YMSM 418).
3. Sarasate
Arrangement in Black: Portrait of Señor Pablo de Sarasate (YMSM 315).
4. black girl
Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (YMSM 378).
5. [p. 2]
Printed address header is repeated at top of p. 2 (as on p. 1).
6. Carmen
Crimson note: Carmen (YMSM 441).
7. Smith
The Master Smith of Lyme Regis (YMSM 450).
8. ladies
Rosalind Birnie Philip (1873-1958), JW's sister-in-law [more], and Frances Philip (1824-1917), née Black, JW's mother-in-law [more].
9. The gentle art
Whistler, James McNeill, The Gentle Art of Making Enemies, London and New York, 1890; Kennedy means JW should stop writing letters attacking people.