Documents associated with: health, cold
Record 13 of 31
System Number: 07857
Date: [12 November 1897][1]
Author: JW
Place: Paris
Recipient: Joseph Pennell[2]
Place: London
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 272/10/8
Document Type: ALS[3]
110 Rue du Bac -
My dear Pennell -
I have had a bad time of it so far - The cold you saw me begin in London, has put me to bed here - and I am in the hands of the Doctor who says I have been playing nice tricks with my health! Or rather that I have had a narrow squeak of it -
However - - Give a man time - and [p. 2] he can knock a man down - even if it be himself! -
Now you said to let you know if there were any thing you could do for me -
Well - Yes - I think it would be very excellent indeed if you get for me at once a written statement from Van Wisselingh[4] to the effect that the portrait of Sir W Eden's daughter[5] was offered to him for sale - I want Pauling[6] to go with you, as he did in the Thompson[7] case and get the whole thing properly attested - Also the Fine Arts Society - either Mr Brown[8] or Huish[9] to give their help by statement of the same kind - for of course the picture must have been offered to them - Mr Dunn[10] you must beware of - as I believe the Baronet sends him game!
See Pauling at once from me -
What did you pick up at the Chelsea Art Club?
Do write anything & everything
Give kindest regards to Mrs Pennell[11]
Always
[butterfly signature]
This document is protected by copyright.
Envelope:
ToJoseph Pennell Esq
14. Buckingham Street
Strand -
London
Angleterre
[stamp:] POSTE / 5 / REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
[stamp:] POSTE / 25 / REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE
[postmark:] PARIS-80 / R DU BAC / E 12 / NOV / 97
Notes:
1. [12 November 1897]
Dated from the postmark.
2. Joseph Pennell
Joseph Pennell (1860-1926), printer and illustrator, JW's biographer [more].
3. ALS
The stationery has a mourning border.
4. Van Wisselingh
Elbert Jan Van Wisselingh (b. ca 1848), art dealer [more].
5. portrait of Sir W Eden's daughter
In October 1893, Sir William Eden (1849-1915), painter and collector [more], who disliked the portrait of his daughter by John Macallan Swan (1847-1908), animal painter and sculptor [more], asked D. C. Thomson to dispose of it (see Eden to Thomson, #01032). However, Van Wisselingh claimed that the painting had not been offered there, but to the Fine Art Society: 'At the request of Mr Brown, the manager I went to see it, and an offer was invited. I was given to understand that it could be got for less than the price paid.' (E. J. Van Wisselingh to JW, 3 November 1897, #07105).
6. Pauling
A misspelling of Sidney Southgate Pawling (d. 1922), business partner of the publisher W. H. Heinemann [more].
7. Thompson
A misspelling of David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), art dealer [more].
8. Mr Brown
Ernest George Brown (1853 or 1854-1915), assistant manager at the Fine Art Society [more].
9. Huish
Marcus Bourne Huish (1843 - d.1921), barrister, writer and art dealer, Director of the Fine Art Society [more].
10. Mr Dunn
A. Homeyer Dunn, employee of the Fine Art Society.
11. Mrs Pennell
Elizabeth Robins Pennell (1855-1936), née Robins, JW's biographer [more].