System Number: 09801
Date: 1 May 1900
Author: JW
Place: Paris
Recipient: Edward Guthrie Kennedy[1]
Place: London
Repository: New York Public Library
Call Number: E. G. Kennedy II/135
Credit Line: Edward Guthrie Kennedy Papers / Manuscripts and Archives Division / The New York Public Library / Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations
Document Type: ALS
[Chatham coat of arms and motto:] BENIGNO NUMINE
HOTEL CHATHAM
PARIS
PARIS,
May 1. 1900.
My dear O K -
Most excellent it is to know that you are again at Garlant's in the Suffolk Street of Pall Mall: -
Now write at once and tell me what is our arrangement - if there be one that is after your own heart - about the full lengths -
For, you see, one of them I have completed - the one that you said was in the "slate coloured dress" -
[p. 2] The picture is now hung on the walls of the American section - Exposition Universelle - looking very magnificent - and is called "Nacre et Argent", l'Andalouse[2]". - I ought to have a couple of thousand guineas for this work -
Write me a line - I don't think you ever cared very much for this "slate" coloured lady anyhow -
It is very nice of you O K, to bring me over the cheque - so that's all right! - If you will, you might just walk across and pay it in to my account at Drummonds[3], and, in your answer tell me you have done so! - Present my compliments to Mrs Garlant[4] & to Miss Hensman[5] and[6] tell Mrs Pennell[7] how distressed I am to hear about poor William Penn[8] - I have passed the afternoon with Boldini[9] at the Exposition! He still believes you to be "furieux!"
Always
[butterfly signature]
[p. 3] ' "L'Andalousienne[10]", really a portrait of Mrs. Whibley[11], painted shortly after he married her sister & was done in Chelsea. I bought this picture & afterwards sold it to Mr. Whittemore of Naugatuck[12].
The allusion to Wm. Penn, means the death of Mrs Pennell's cat, who was thus named'
This document is protected by copyright.
Envelope:
'May 1, 1900'
[Chatham coat of arms and motto:] BENIGNO NUMINE
HOTEL CHATHAM
PARIS
O. K. Kennedy. Esq
Garlants Hotel -
Suffolk Street
Pall Mall -
London
Angleterre.
[stamp:] POSTE / 25 / REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE
[postmark:] PARIS 98 / GD. HOTEL / 7 30 / 1 MAI / 00
[postmark on verso:] LONDON [illegible] / 6 30 [AM?] / MY 2 / 00
Notes:
1. Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), dealer with H. Wunderlich and Co., New York [more]. JW called him O'K.
2. l'Andalouse
Mother of Pearl and Silver: The Andalusian (YMSM 378).
3. Drummonds
Bankers in London.
4. Mrs. Garlant
Mrs Sarah E. Garlant (b. ca 1828), proprietor of Garlant's Hotel [more].
5. Miss Hensman
Miss A. Hensman, an employee at Garlant's Hotel [more].
6. and ... Penn! -
'and ... Penn' is written in the left margin, and 'I have ... signature' at the top of p. 1, at right angles to the main text.
7. Mrs. Pennell
Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936), née Robins, JW's biographer [more].
8. William Penn
A cat named after William Penn (1644-1718), Quaker leader, founder of Philadelphia.
9. Boldini
Giovanni Boldini (1845-1931), portrait painter and etcher [more].
10. L'Andalousienne
The rest of the text are notes written by E. G. Kennedy himself, possibly written at a much later date.
11. Mrs. Whibley
Ethel Whibley (1861-1920), née Philip, JW's sister-in-law [more].
12. Whittemore of Naugatuck
Arthur Harris Whittemore (1864-1927), businessman and collector [more].