artist

16pp. of sketches in 15 x 13 cm. artist's sketchbook. In good condition, in boards covered with decorative paper. On page preceding the sketches: 'Sketch Book 2007', with the following added subsequently: 'GS paintings from museums & galleries 2008 | possible use in 2nd edition of Inspirations by Rosalind Thuillier'. The sketches, all in black ink, are pared-down and assured (as befits the abstract painter that Thuillier was). The first two captions are 'portrait from Goldmark | 1924' and 'Little painting - 1924 (6?). Fine Art Society.

Four pages, 12mo, bifolium, good condition. "Many thanks to you for the photographs- they are delightful remembrances or rather they recall a delightful visit for if truth must be told, I don't think the Photo by any means a successful one - you look dreadfully ill, your son worse Mrs Spiers a Mulatto, Hull [or Hall] - all four, Mrs Hull[Hall] & Mrs Hawthorne very [?underlined] would not be made frights of.

Good, bold underlined signature in brown ink on 4 x 6 cm piece of paper. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. Laid down on piece of thick paper, on the reverse of which are traces of grey paper mount. Presumably cut from a letter.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The note reads: 'Dear Mr. Sparks | I am so sorry to be unable to comply with your request, being previously engaged for the 23d. inst | yours sincerely | L Alma Tadema'.

Both items in fair condition, bifoliums on lightly aged paper. ONE: 16 December 1883. 3pp., 12mo. Telling the story of the 'Wallingford Belles', beginning with the family of 'Thomas Clark [...] landlord of the Lamb Hotel, formerly called the Bell' When Grant visits him the following summer he will give him 'lessons in painting & as much Lawn Tennis as you like and there is no end to the Archaeology of the neighbourhood'. TWO: 23 December [1883]. 4pp., 12mo. He begins by offering to aid Grant's researchehs by search the parish registers.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, on aged paper, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. He writes that he has 'carefully looked over the Copy of "Turner's England and Wales," that will be offered for Sale at Christies rooms on Tuesday next', and that while he finds it 'in all respects good of its kind, and applicable to the Library of a gentleman', it is 'not so well applicable to the Studio of an Artist, whose aim is to acquire from it, all the knowledge that a more refined class of impressions of places might impart to him'.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, laid down on a leaf removed from an album. The letter begins by directing the recipient to 'place the head stone upon the figure if you intend to place it before the rest of the figure is erected'. If the recipient's 'previous arrangements did not contemplate putting the whole figure together' he asks him not to do as he has directed. Chantrey is 'desirous that the figure should be in the best possible condition to be looked at' before the next Wednesday morning.

Previously laid down in an autograph album. On both sides of a 12 x 10.5 cm. piece of paper, cropped down from 12mo. In fair condition, but with some loss of text due to cropping, and with traces of glue on first page (i.e. the page without the signature). On the first page he approves the postponement of the recipient's visit to Edinburgh, and on the second he expresses admiration for 'the kind and generous sentiments displayed on both sides and described with such perfect simplicity' in 'the presented papers'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged, with traces of glue from mounting on blank reverse. Reads: 'Sir, | In reply to your polite note of the 22nd. inst:, I am quite prepared to receive the "Camel Coats" [?] with which my friend Mr: Morris has kindly bethought me, and I shall thank you for their delivery.'

Studio Photograph, c.15 x 10.5, laid down on slightly larger card with photographers printed at base, faintly speckled, good condition. Image of head and upper body, not found on Google Images.

46pp., 8vo. Stitched and in original plain grey wraps. Aged and worn, in fraying wraps. The pamphlet is anonymous, but carries the following inscription in pencil on the half-title: 'hommage | a Mademoiselle Bergeret | Artiste, de la part de l'Auteur. | Voïart'. The only copies on COPAC at the V & A, and the British Library. This copy lacks the lithographed frontispiece portrait of Prud'hon, by Voïart, present in the copy in the Bibliothèque Nationale, which is ascribed to the wife, whereas other authorities ascribe the work to the husband.

On 3 x 11 cm piece of thin card, cut from conclusion to a letter. In fair condition, aged and with traces of mount to two corners (not affecting signature). Reads: 'Yours sincerely | Laura. T. Alma Tadema'. Text on reverse: '[...] with us, I should be so pleased if you would join us - [...]'.

Studio Photograph, c.15 x 10.5, laid down on slightly larger card with photographers printed at base, faintly speckled, good condition. Image of head and upper body, not found on Google Images.

Written on one side of a 10 x 14.5 cm card, beneath a stylish 'modern' letterhead. Somewhat aged and worn. The message reads: '1/6/65 | Dear Basil, | Very many thanks indeed for your letter - believe me your appreciation is tremendously valued. | All good wishes | Victor'. The recipient is identified in another hand on the reverse, with an address and directions.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Written in response to a request for an autograph, and signed at foot 'Yours Truly | Jas: C. Hook'. Above this, beneath the heading 'Lincoln', Hook has transcribed twelve lines from 'Ode Recited at the Harvard Commemoration, July 21 1865', beginning 'He knew to bide his time, | And can his fame abide,' and with 'J. R. Lowell.' at the end.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to an unnamed recipient. He gives his prices for 'a head in Marble', a 'Torso bust', and a 'pale draped bust'. Docketed on reverse with biographical details in a nineteenth-century hand.

Receipt, part printed, part MS., 21 x 13cm, fold marks, good condition. A "Mr Cornish" has purchased Parts 17 & 18 of the Birds of Great Britain. Note; "The Birds of Great Britain" (1862–73).

Both letters 2pp., 12mo. Both in good condition, lightly-aged, the second with the first page lightly crossed through in pencil. The letters relate to work done for the firm of her brother-in-law Marcus Adams (described in his Times obituary as 'the outstanding child photographer of his day and photographer to the Royal Family for more than 30 years'), at 43 Dover Street, Mayfair. She begins the first letter by explaining that she has 'endeavoured to make the Woodall miniature like the snapshot, but unless they are really satisfied I had better do another.

One page, 8vo, bifolium, three lines of text with added signature and date good condition, in a difficult hand (a scrawl). He is asking that the employees of a certain premises welcome a M. Plouet. Text as follows, as near as I can): "Je prie MM les employées de la [ biblque??] de L[?]y de laisser entrer <. Plouet et la [?]." Image available.

Notepaper, 17.5 x 11cm, ood + condition, in centre "With the compliments of | J a McN. Whistler"

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, with light signs of age and wear. After following Horton's 'kind advice' concerning 'Mr Hedgcock's & my little alphabet', 're some sketches with more action in them', he has been to 'Town' to show the designs to the publishers Grant Richards. He 'called in person on Thursday but after some delay they have eventually rejected the Alphabet. [...] Evidently from what I was told the sketches such as you advised would have been more what they wanted', so he will do them again 'in that style and try again with other people'.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, aged and creased, with slight tearing at edges. She begins: 'Please forgive me for not answering your letter before, but I have been so rushed!' She is not able to 'sit for Mr. Priest just at present': 'We are just on the point of starting rehearsals for several plays to be toured and, in addition, my two small girls are ill, so that I want to spend all my spare time with them.' She is trying to 'get out of' sittings for another artist.

On watermarked laid paper. Dimensions of paper: 23 x 32cm. Dimensions of plate: 14 x 20cm. In fair condition, aged and lightly stained, with creasing and short closed tear to right-hand margin, but with the engraving good and clear. A windy scene, with a turbulent cloudy sky weighing heavily over a disheveled windswept landscape, in which two small figures can be made out on a bridge. Inscribed in pencil beneath the plate: 'Oliver Hall | To R. Wallace | Ed: 40.' The title 'Hayling Island' is in pencil in the bottom right-hand corner.

On F. J. Head & Co. laid paper. Dimensions of paper: 23 x 29cm. Dimensions of plate: 17.5 x 25cm. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. A wonderful watery view of a winding country river and trees. Inscribed in pencil on the reverse: 'To Father Richard. This is working Proof for drypoint "The River" | Robin Wallace July 1927'. Wallace, a well-known painter of landscapes and still life subjects in oil and water-colour, was born at Kendal in the Lake District and studied in Kensington at the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged and spotted, with minor traces of glue from mount on reverse. Reads: 'With the Compliments of the Season to all | from | Thomas Faed | 25 Der. 1881'. For information on Faed, see his entry in the Oxford DNB.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged, with small piece of mount adhering at head. Accepting an invitation to dinner.

2pp., 16mo. In fair condition, lightly-aged, with trimmed margins and slight damage at head from removal from album. He asks her to accept a 'Copy of Titian's "Ascension of the Virgin". You seemed to like it and it may fill a corner in your Boudoir.' He apologises if the frame is 'not as it should be but some might prefer he quaint old pattern to a more modern one.' From the papers of Faed's nephew John Francis Faed, son of the Royal Academician Thomas Faed (1826-1900), and so probably addressed to a family member.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly-aged. 'I shipped on yesterday to you through Mr J. D. Brink Jr Forwarding Merchant of this city a box containing 4 Oil Pictures which I wish you to expose for sale at your Exhibition Rooms. | The titles and prices of the same will be given you by my friend Mr G. du Mourier. Please let me know when they come to hand.' The Berner's Street Gallery's association with American artists would continue: in the following decade it would gain notoriety for exhibiting Whistler's 'Symphony in White, No. 1'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper, but with a corner of the first leaf torn away, resulting in some loss of text, including the year. The reverse of the second leaf laid down on a leaf removed from an album. The image of the 'design', 8 x 6.5 cm, is on the second leaf, which also carries Tayler's signature. It is a crude but pleasing sketch of an intended painting, done with the sureness of a watercolour artist.

One page, 12mo, bifolium, fold mark, good condition. £I have obtained a photograph of my Academy drawing before I coloured it, & beg to send you a copy." Postscript written at an angle, "I shall be very glad to go out with the working drawings of the first wing, when you say the word." Note: further enlightenment welcome.