Documents associated with: sea pieces
Record 28 of 30
System Number: 00791
Date: [1898][1]
Author: JW
Place: Paris
Recipient: Christine Anderson[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler C292
Document Type: AL[3]
110. Rue du Bac - Paris -
Dear Mrs. Anderson -
Write to Mr Chapman[4] - Acknowledge letter - say submitted to directors - will transmit their further advices - Will Mr. Chapman say meanwhile what other Whistler Nocturnes or marines he may have - and what would be their prices -
Also will he regard the matter as under consideration, and send the size of "Bognor"[5], and of any other painting he may be willing to part with[6] -
Write to Mr. Pope[7] [p. 2] of America - (have you not his address?) - :
"Sir - Knowing you to be a Collector of Whistler paintings, and possessor of very fine [works,] the directors wish me to advise you that they may shortly be able to offer you a famous Nocturne of his, known as the "Bognor" - (size) considered by the Critics as the very finest among them all -
We would be pleased to hear from you immediately whether you will entertain its purchase at £1600? - £1600? -["]
Letter to Mr. Pope may wait until you hear from Mr Chapman -
Writing again directly[8] -
Let me hear from you again - tomorrow[9] -
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [1898]
Dated from the references to paintings (see below).
2. Christine Anderson
Mrs Christine Anderson, manager of the 'Company of the Butterfly' [more]. The company was founded by JW in order to sell his works direct to the public. He acquired the lease of a shop at 2 Hinde Street, Manchester Square, as premises in April 1897. However, it was not a success and lasted only from 1898 to 1901. See Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908, vol. 2, pp. 199-201.
3. AL
Written on deep-bordered mourning paper.
4. Mr Chapman
Alfred Chapman (1839-1917), engineer and collector [more]. Chapman also owned Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Southampton Water (YMSM 117) and Nocturne: Grey and Gold - Chelsea Snow (YMSM 174), which JW re-acquired and sold to J. J. Cowan in December 1898.
5. part with
This paragraph, 'Also will he ... part with', is inserted at right-angles to the main text in the left-hand margin.
6. Bognor
Nocturne: Blue and Silver - Bognor (YMSM 100). The painting was eventually sold to Charles Lang Freer (1856-1919), industrialist, collector and founder of the Freer Gallery of Art [more] in 1899.
7. Mr. Pope
Alfred Atmore Pope (1842-1913), manufacturer and collector [more].
8. again directly
'Letter to ... again directly - ' is written in the left margin.
9. tomorrow
'Let me ... tomorrow - ' is written upside-down to the main text at the top of p. 1.