System Number: 10054
Date: 13 June 1867
Author: Rodolph Nicholson Wornum[1]
Place: [London]
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Call Number: National Art Library, PC12/6 86. KK. 11
Document Type: ALdS[2]
13th June -
Committee[3]
The Marquis D'Azeglio
Mr. Barker
The Baron Marochetti
Mr Robinson
" Maskell
" Wornum
Read the minutes of the last Meeting
Read a letter from Mr Whistler - dated June 11th 1867
Resolved that the following letter be addressed to Mr Whistler
13th June
Sir
The Committee have lost no time before holding a special meeting for the purpose of considering your letter[4] of the 11th instant, received yesterday -
The Committee desire me to say that they are quite ready to give full consideration, if you desire it to any explanation which you may wish to offer: and to investigate so far as they can the circumstances[5] of the cases of assault which have [p. 2] been brought before them. For I am directed to say that the assault upon Mr Haden[6] at Paris is not the only one which it is alleged you have committed; and owing to as a committee an important duty to the club, they felt it to be imperative upon them to communicate with you on the subject -
I am accordingly desired to say that they repeat to you the expression of their opinion as contained in my letter of the 11th instant -
I am Sir
Your obt Servant
R. N. Wornum
J. A. Whistler Esq.
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. Rodolph Nicholson Wornum
Ralph Nicholson Wornum (1812-1877), history painter [more].
2. MsDc
This is a copy of a section of the minutes from a meeting of the Committee of the Burlington Club on 13 June 1867. See also R. N. Wornum to JW, 13 June 1867, #00437, which is the version of the letter actually received by JW
3. Committee
The committee of the Burlington Fine Arts Club, a club for artists and connoisseurs. It was founded early in 1866 and located at 177, Piccadilly. JW was proposed as a member on 22 February 1867 (see William Boxall, Louis Huth and the Marquis d'Azeglio, proposers, #11957). The committee consisted of: Vittorio Emanuelle Taparelli (1816-1890), Marquis D'Azeglio, Sardinian Ambassador and collector [more]; Alexander Barker (b. ca 1797 - d.1873), collector and member of the Burlington Fine Arts Club [more]; Baron Carlo Marochetti (1805-1867), artist and print collector [more]; probably John Charles Robinson (1824-1913), landscape painter, Superintendent of Art Collections, South Kensington Museum, and Surveyor of the Queen's Pictures [more]; and Rev. William Maskell (ca 1814 - d.1890), mediaevalist and antiquary [more].
4. letter
See JW's draft letter to R. N. Wornum, [11 June 1867], #00436.
5. circumstances
In April 1867 JW quarrelled with Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more], over Haden's treatment of James Reeves Traer (ca 1834 - d.1867), partner in F. S. Haden's medical practice [more]. Traer died suddenly on 23 April of alcohol related causes, during a trip to Paris. Haden arranged for Traer's burial, with what JW and his brother William regarded as unseemly haste. On 26 April a violent row took place between the brothers-in-law in a Paris café and Haden fell (or was allegedly pushed by JW) through a plate glass window. Both JW and Haden were members of the Burlington Fine Arts Club and in the aftermath of the Traer affair Haden campaigned for JW to be excluded, having brought to the Club's attention several alleged previous incidents of assault involving JW (JW to L. Huth, 19 December 1867, #02240, and JW to W. Boxall, 24 December 1867, #00498). JW was asked to resign on the threat of expulsion on 11 June (see R. N. Wornum to JW, #10442). He replied the same day, demanding a court of enquiry into the allegations (JW to R. N. Wornum, #00436).
6. Mr Haden
Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more].