artist

One page, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. Since I saw you last I hve not neen well, and have in consequence not been able to make progress with the work, on the completion of which depended my being able to undertake and illustrations for you book. | I regret that it is so, but am obliged to say that it is not in my power to furnish any drawings for your work before Christmas. | Your book, howevere, is so very well supplied with illustrators of note that the absence of my name in the list cannot be of any consequence.

Two pages, obl. 8vo, fold marks, closed tear along fold, remnants of sellotape, some marking, text clear and complete. He appreciates Temple's enjoyment of Brittany, and his and his description of prehistorical remains so enticing that it makes me wish to visit the same spot. He is holding a letter addressed to Temple. He then reveals what his wife is doing (visiting their son). I am now doing a little work in the studio for it is probable that we may prolong our stay till after the end of Oct. when we hope to see you in full possession of your usual good health.

LETTER ONE (April): Three pages, 12mo, good condition. He discusses their respective illnesses, him recuperating at Minehead. The district round about Minehead is very stimulating, & inspiring. Watchet, a romantic port near by, immediately took my fancy. I tried to do some watercolours here but my efforts met with indifferent success. I learned later that Watchet is the traditional place from which Coleridge's 'Ancient Mariner' sailed. A fellow artist ('Scott') 'assailed' him when he was 'back to school', saying, he was down at Chelsea , & there was quite a group of artists there now.

Two pages, 12mo, fold marks, good condition. Text: Faed [fellow-artist] wrote me a letter some little while ago, which I only received on Saturday on my return from Berlin, & the conclusion of a German lecture tour, I am simply delighted to hear of your existence & whereabouts & hope we can soon meet. Please write, and if you could come up to this part of the world, even this coming week-end, I might see you more quickly then i[?] we would until I can get to Bristol. I am going to Gibraltar next month, so let's try & fix something up as soon as possible.

One page, 8vo, fold marks, good condition. Text: I regret that my husband's serious breakdown in health prevents him from answering your note of March 14th. He tells me that the aticles in The Times quoted in the book were written by himself: he was very fond of writing unsigned articles in newspapers and then quoting them, as he knew the quotations wouyld be apt! | I fear that he is quite unable to see you, as he is not strong enough to see friends, and especially those who wish to discuss serious questions with him. Do you happen to know Mr. R.W. Bell, an official of the L.C.C.?

One page, 12mo. fold marks, very good condition. Text: Thank you for yoyr letter inviting me to contribute to a Wesh Exhibition you are organising. I hope I may be able to find something for this purpose.

Alistair Sooke, on the BBC website, makes the case that 'Meredith Frampton is the forgotten genius of British art'. See Frampton's entry in the Oxford DNB, and also those of Codner and of Frampton's father Sir George Frampton, who executed the celebrated statue of Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (not modelled on his son, who was eighteen when it was made). 1p, 4to, in fair condition, aged and worn. Folded once. Writing to 'My dear Codner', he apologises for 'keeping you up till such a late hour last night'.

See Hardie's entry in the Oxford DNB. 11.5 x 9 cm card. Printed with penny stamp in red; no illustration. In fair condition, discoloured and a little worn. Addressed by Hardie to 'C. H. Whitby | 82, Crofton Park | Yeovil.' (Whitby is the author of a handful of books of reglious poetry.) Whitby would appear to be offering for sale, or at least asking for advice about, an impression of Palmer's celebrated engraving 'The Bellman'.

Two pages, 8vo, very good condition. Text: Thanks you for your letter. I've no idea what paper you saw that reported the councillor's dislike of my sketches - actually, at the meeting only one man expressed some demur about them, and (poor man) he was defeated by the otherwise general approval of the committee, which decided to go ahead with the scheme I proposed. I am doing the final designs now, and weaving will start in the autumn.

Both in pencil. Letter One (17 Jan.): One page, 8vo, good condition. Text: Hope you are better. All was well at the RA - as you saw [T?] Wheeler going well. | Now - Her is a lovely estuary wide & tidal from Harwich to Manningtree 800 swans ---- Vast herds of them - close in to edge often & out of the wader - You can touch them. | Masses of stuff ---- come & stay at Dedham Sun[day] ----or Colchester ----- & have a look [underlined]. Letter Two (7 Dec. 1956), two pages, 8vo, good condition.

All one page, 12mo, good condition. A. (23 May 1877) He thanks his correspondent for showing his drawings to Messrs Daldy, [publishers] adding, I presume the drawings would not all [underlined] be required very [underlined] soon. I am rather pressed for time just now. B. (3 Aug. 1877) [...] I shall be happy to work a little on the drwing, to give it a little more appearance of snoq, if you think it advisable. I am going out of town early tomorrow morning, but I shall be back in a few days, or if you prefer to send the drawing to me in the country , my address will be [...]. C.

One page, cr. 8vo, fold marks, small stain in margin, text clear and attractive (a neat hand). He appreciates the invitation to Dover Street to dine. I[t] gave me great pleasure to have this expression of your friendship and it was great ill-lcuk that the wretched teaching shoulkd have prevented me from enjoying your company - I teach all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. | On wednesday nights I feel so exhausted mentally and physically that I am glad to crawl back home to bed.

2pp, 12mo. In fair condition, lightly aged. A daughter from Lady Derby's first marriage was married to the Earl of Galloway, from whose seat Derby writes. Addressed to 'G. [sic] Norbury. Esq.' Having received the letter of the unnamed male recipient, he feels he 'must decline to give my name as patron of the now proposed society of water colour painters in Liverpool: not because I do not approve of the formation of such a society, but because your invitation to join it is the first intimation I have received of any such project being in contemplation'.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded twice. The letter reads: 'My Dear Roberts. | I shall have great pleasure in accepting your kind invitation for Friday next, & in meeting such Distinguished Guests as you propose to gather round you. | Ever my Dear Roberts | Sincerely yours | C. R. Cockerell.' From the Roberts papers.

One page, 12mo, one edge rough, good condition. Should you care to see my picture of 'Egypt 1882' I shall be happy to show it to you when you may be pleased to honour my Studio with a visit. Note: Desanges's picture represented an equestrian group of all the commanders in Egypt with Wolseley in the centre. The picture was published by Henry Graves and Co. in 1884 under the title Egypt 1882.

Enters exhibited her artistic work - including many sketches of her own costume designs - widely in the United States and Europe, and her work is held by several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The present item is an attractive impressionistic sketch, in grey and black pencil, with watercolour wash in pink, light red and grey, showing a dancer with arms outstretched and heavy costume with full sleeves and train. Captioned by Enters at bottom left: 'Fleur du Mal (Proust Sequence)'. Signed at bottom left: 'Angna Enters '56'. On 23 x 15.5 cm laid paper.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Having found among her correspondence an unanswered letter from her cousin she apologises for the apparent rudeness, before accepting her 'kind invitation to luncheon when next we are in your neighbourhood'. She hopes that they 'may be in the Forest some time in the summer'. She ends by stating that she is enclosing an autograph for her cousin's friend.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. Central horizontal fold, not affecting the drawing. Sandor was clearly a generous fellow, and Norris was a lucky one. Sandor has responded to a request for an autograph by sending a note topped by an attractive miniature graphite drawing of the head and shoulders of an 1890s young lady, more subtle than a 'Gibson Girl', staring quizzically with the distinctive hairstyle of the period.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Having found among her correspondence an unanswered letter from her cousin she apologises for the apparent rudeness, before accepting her 'kind invitation to luncheon when next we are in your neighbourhood'. She hopes that they 'may be in the Forest some time in the summer'. She ends by stating that she is enclosing an autograph for her cousin's friend.

1p, 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of glue from mount on blank reverse. Central horizontal fold, not affecting the drawing. Sandor was clearly a generous fellow, and Norris was a lucky one. Sandor has responded to a request for an autograph by sending a note topped by an attractive miniature graphite drawing of the head and shoulders of an 1890s young lady, more subtle than a 'Gibson Girl', staring quizzically with the distinctive hairstyle of the period.

4pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with two smudges on second page. Folded once. With reference to her letter 'to Mr. Somerset of March 11th. re the portrait of Charles II (as Prince) in academic robes', he has had the picture by William Dobson photographed and encloses a copy (not present). He discusses Charles's dress in the picture in some detail, adding that 'The portrait (27 x 28 1/2 inches) has been in my possession since 1918 when it was bought at Christie's Nov. 29 lot.

A splendidly intemperate correspondent between contributor and publisher, almost worthy of one of Jackson's own bibliophile volumes. The four items are in fair condition, on aged and worn paper, one with paperclip stain, another with brass stud, and a third with staple holes; creasing to carbon copies. Kapp's handwriting is 'artistic', and his letterheads are unusually long 8vos. ONE: Kapp to Jackson, 20 January 1920. Signed 'E X Kapp'. 1p, 8vo. Begins: 'My dear Holbrook-Jackson, | Don't you feel you'd like to send me a copy or two of "To-Day" each time? I buy one or two as well, you know!

1p, 12mo. In fair condition, on discoloured paper with slight discoloration at corner as a result of removal from mount. Neatly centred on the page is 'Yours Sincerely | Clara Montalba'. No other text. The signature is florid and curliculous.

Twelve pencil portraits executed in the same extremely capable style, probably for the purposes of engraving. Each on a separate piece of 4to paper. All in good condition, with light signs of age and wear, a couple with minor flecking with red paint. All dated in pencil (between 1811 and 1829), and all but two captioned. (Several of the items with watermark date supporting the pencil dating.) Three of the portraits have the tiny signature at bottom left of 'Bestland', and all would appear to be the work of the same artist, although the last appears to be signed with the initials 'C H'.

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. Folded once. Addressed: 'To W. J. P. Monckton Esq. | Publisher | "Black & White," | London'. He has just received Monckton's letter, and is enclosing a 'little pamphlet', which will give him 'a full account of the incident depicted in "Saving the Colours"'. If all is well Gibb hopes to be in London on the Monday or Tuesday of the following week, and will 'have the pleasure of calling upon you as promised'. His address will be the Thackeray Hotel, Great Russell Street.

1p, 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. From the celebrated manuscript collection of Richard Monckton Milnes (Baron Houghton). Addressed by Girodet on reverse 'préssée | A Monsieur | Monsieur Gros peintre d'histoire rue des champs Elissés la 1ere or 2e porte cochere a droite'.

Valediction of Letter only, 5 lines inc. signature and address, 19 x 7cm, laid down on similar sized paper, with remnants on verso suggesting that it was in an album at one time, with note identifying writer ("The Countess Spencer"). Text: "& you will very highly oblige & gratify me. | I have the honor to be your Royal Highness most obedient Sert | Lavinia Spencer". From a large collection of similar conclusions,so often to the Duke of York ("Royal Highness" etc) that they may reveal the fate of his incoming correspondence, or part of it..

2pp, 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, folded twice. Explaining that as it was a week-end he was not able to answer her letter sooner, he writes, evidently on the subject of a painting she has commissioned: 'I should be very pleased to see any of your friends to show them the portrait on Friday or Saturday next at 3.30 or on any other day at that time which may be more convenient.' He concludes: 'Do not hesitate to send anyone you think would like to see the picture'.

An interesting correspondence, casting light on the practicalities of early twentieth-century English portrait-painting. The recipient is Colonel Frederick Hugh Langston Oldham, D.S.O., D.L., of Overley Hall, near Wellington, Shropshire, eldest son of the Archdeacon of Ludlow, and the letter concerns Brock's portrait of Oldham's wife Christabel Josephine Oldham. The five letters in good condition, lightly aged. The four dated letters are dated between 25 February and 13 July 1920. The total 9pp (seven in 8vo and two in 12mo).

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'In 1844 Lover abandoned miniature painting as a result of failing eyesight but continued to paint and exhibit landscapes. He invented a new form of entertainment which he called Irish Evenings, a monologue of songs, recitations, and stories, all of his own composition. These he performed at the Princess's Concert Rooms, London.' Between 1846 and 1848 he toured North America with great success. 3pp, 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged, with minor traces of mount adhering to blank reverse of second leaf. Folded twice.