PAINTER

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. A spirited and characteristic letter. He begins by explaining that he has been 'exceedingly tormented with neuralgia for the last week' and is 'still very ill at ease'. He has not been 'out of doors for some time - & tis quite impossible just now'. He regrets 'missing Dear Old Mozart - & seeing you all', but hopes to 'make up for the loss by being most dreadfully pleasant'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. He writes that he has only just received Allchin's letter on his return from the country. 'Please ask Sir George Burrows to call at any hour in the day most convenient to himself.'

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is an unnamed man and the subject is Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Procession, London, 21 June 1887. Asking for tickets, if there are 'any good places left', 'to view the procession of the 21st.'

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Sir William | Many thanks for your letter | We will be with you tomorrow Tuesday by 11. o'c'.

The three items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: ALS. 'Saturday' [no date]. Burlington House. 1p., 12mo. On grey paper with mourning border. Addressed to 'Dear Doctor'. Allchin arranged to go to see him on the following Monday or Tuesday. 'I find I shall be receiving new students from 9.30 to 11 on Monday - Can you therefore keep your visit for Tuesday?' TWO: ANS. Addressed to 'Dear Dr Allchin'. Monday, 23 April [ no year ]. On Athenaeum letterhead, and clearly concerning Allchin's election as a member.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'My dear Sir | I have great pleasure in accepting your invitation to dinner on Tuesday next. | Yours very faithfully | C. L. Eastlake'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Mourning border. The recipient's 'most entertaining note' finds Tayler 'just starting off to Highgate'. He only has time 'for a line in reply', and he ventures 'at the risk of being thought impertinent' to advise the recipient's mother not to 'put too Fanciful a price on the Sketches, but let them go to the advancement of the Charity with all their imperfections on their heads'. Tayler considers himself 'the obliged party', and ends with his best respects.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins: 'Any time after Jany 7th will suit me perfectly for making the drawing, before Xmas day I am afraid I could not begin it.' He has 'too great fellowship with those who labor, not to respect all holy days as very sacred things'.

8pp., 12mo. On two bifololiums with mourning borders. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to 'monsieur Townsend'. From the papers of Captain Cecil William Townsend of the Warwickshire Yeomanry, Dunsterforce and Norperforce, and the British Military Mission to South Russia. Gampert is still at college as he writes, and the reference to the 'boches' dates the letter to the First World War. Gampert begins by explaining the reason for the delay in writing, with reference to 'Mlle Trithen'.

1p., 16mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'Dear Lady Wynn | I thank you from the depths of my heart for your kind letter. I enclose you a word portrait of my splendid wife. More I dare not write or I shall not regain the strength I need to carry out her wishes in life.' As the Oxford DNB explains, after the death of his first wife in 1883 'Herkomer married, on 14 August 1884, a Welsh nurse, Lulu Griffiths (b. 1849), who had been a member of his household since 1874. He was devastated by her sudden death a year later.'

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with minor damage in margin at the gutter of the second leaf caused by removal from stub. Addressed to 'Sir Edwin Landseer RA | &c &c'. A week from the writing of the letter Frith is expecting 'a few artists & others to tea-supper smoke-whist &c'. He explains that the group usually meets 'about eight supper at ten or half past. We should all be pleased if you can be induced to give us the pleasure of your company.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir/ | I am very pleased to hear you like my pictures and seem so well acquainted with them - | I hope you will go on taking an interest in Art. | I am | Yours Sincerely | Arthur Hacker'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter begins: 'Mr. [ Park? ], the Artist, of Dublin, has this day written me word that he has some intention of coming to settle in London in the ensuing winter.' He urges Spencer to 'get him to deliver a course of Lectures on Painting at the Surrey Institution. From speeches which I have heard him deliver, I should think his language & delivery well calculated for the purpose & likely to render him popular.' He explains that he is prevented from writing himself by a 'complaint in my eyes'.

Both items in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. ONE: 8 December 1929. 4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. He begins by stating that he has read Walters' 'Charm of Lancashire' with great enjoyment, and considers it one 'of which every Lancashire family and lover of the county should possess a copy'. He continues: 'I myself was born between Pendle and Boulsworth. My Father's stock farmed around Trawden and the Boulsworth side, and my mother's around Blacko and the Pendle slopes, so your section devoted to this locality has an especial attraction for me.

1p., 4to. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. A somewhat grand and expansive printed form, completed in manuscript by Sowerby. He thanks the 'Gentlemen' who are 'The Proprietors of "Scientific Roll"' for 'the continuation, as published, of The "Scientific Roll"'. From the papers of Alexander Ramsay, editor of the 'Scientific Roll'.

1p., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper. He apologises for being unable to 'get out of' his 'other engagement' after his committee the following next Wednesday, and asks for 'another opportunity of coming to see you.' He continues: 'I saw Streatfield [sic] from afar the other night at Bach's mass in B. Minor. He was magnificent in evening dress next to Claude Phillips even more magnificent.' He concludes: 'I expect you Wednesday afternoon at Rossetti Studios, Flood St.

Printed in black on one side of a 10 x 13 cm piece of grey-blue paper. In good condition, lightly aged, laid down on part of a leaf from an album. A tastefully-presented piece of London artistic ephemera, reading (with manuscript text in square brackets): 'THE NEW SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN WATER COLOURS. | The Committee solicit the honor of | [The Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine and friend] Company at their Gallery 53, Pall Mall, on Wednesday the 17th. of May, to an Evening View of their 14th. Annual Exhibition. | from 8 o'Clock to 11. | 1848 | [James Fahey] Secy. | NOT TRANSERABLE'.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. On a bifolium, with the blank second leaf neatly laid down on a grey card mount, with a slip of paper carrying the address laid down on it: 'W. G. Herdman Esqr. Secy. | Liverpool Academy | Post Office Place | Liverpool'. She writes: 'Sir/ | Will you Oblige me with a line by return to say when the Exhibition is likely to close, and if any of our Pictures are as yet Sold. Apologising for this trouble | I remain | Sir | Your's [sic] respectfully | Charlotte Nasmyth'.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly-aged, with fold to one corner. Fairholt's handwriting is legible, but unfortunately the names of the recipient and subject of the letter are not so. It begins: ' seems very anxious to come to some arrangement. Can we meet on the point. I do not know if you are in London, if you are will you give me a call on Thursday evening'. He gives a few other options, before concluding.

1p., 16mo. In fair condition, on aged paper with traces of mount adhering to reverse. Reads: 'Dear Sir | Will you kindly let me know the latest date for sending pictures to the Melbourne International Exhibition and Oblige | Yours very sincerely | Cecil Lawson.'

1p., 12mo. In good condition. He is writing 'as an old brother savage' (i.e. a member like Finck of the Savage Club), and asks her to accept his 'most sincere sympathy in the loss' of her husband, and his regret that he cannot be present at his funeral. Headed by Mrs Finck 'Answered'. Finck's 'In the Shadows' was one of the last songs played as RMS Titanic went down.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. In envelope addressed by Forbes-Robertson at 79 Netherwood Road, Shepherd's Bush. He thanks him for letting him have his address, and requests a pass for his servant for the following evening's performance of the play 'Mice and Men'. He hopes the servant will return with 'the news I desire viz that you will consent to being pro tem - one of the Hon Secs of the Te Deum Committee.

1p., 16mo. On bifolium. On aged paper with small strip of damp at foot, affecting the signature. Reads: 'Dear Sir | I beg you will accept my sincere thanks for the great favour you have conferred upon me, this morning, a privilege I cannot here sufficiently acknowledge | I am your obedient | James Faed'.

2pp., landscape 8vo. In envelope, with stamp and postmark, addressed to 'Miss I. Forbes-Robertson | 30a. Collingham Place | Earls Court | S.W.5.' In good condition, lightly aged. The first part of the letter concerns a lost or stolen letter and cheque. 'Of course I shall pay you - but it is s. sweet of you to suggest the present'. She repeats information she gave in the letter about which artists' materials she would like: 'Paper for water-colour is becoming scarce too but I have some at the moment'.

The three items are in good condition, lightly aged and worn. ONE: 19 October 1916. 2pp., 8vo. In envelope with postmark and stamp, addressed by him to his daughter at 48 Hogarth Road, South Kensington. Referring to his wife the Polish artist Janina Flamm, he regrets that he cannot 'come home for dear Janias birthday' as he cannot get leave. He is enclosing 2s 6d each for her and her brother 'Phip' [Philippe Forbes-Robertson] and sister 'Cecilia' to get presents for their mother. He sends best wishes to his brothers Leonard and Johnston.

The present item is a puzzle. Farington joined the Incorporated Society of Artists at the age of twenty-one, and played an active part in its affairs until his resignation in 1773.

1p., 4to. On bifolium. Written in an elegant assured hand. Addressed on second leaf, 'To | Mr Francis Wingrave'. In fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Reads: 'Dear Frank | I shall be much obliged to you if you can possibly get the copies I leave with this, inserted in the Gazeteer, the Public, & the Ledger, & the Morning Chronicle, we suppose it of consequence to the success of our exhibition, the interests of which I have greatly at heart. | Yours sincerely | J Stuart | Any expence attending the publication I shall gladly reimburse you'.

On 7.5 x 11 cm slip cut from the end of a letter. In fair condition, lightly aged. On one side reads: 'Gentlemen | Your Obt. Servt. | Fred R Pickersgill | 36 Mornington Crescent | 24 May 1853.' and on the other '[...] at the ensuing half yearly distribution of the Funds of the Institution - | Mr. Varrall is not personally known to me but from the representation of Mr WIlliams ARA [...]'.

Three pages, 12mo, black-edged, bifolium, fold marks, good condition. She sympathises with his "grievous loss". God's help shpould lighten the load.

Peter Wardle studied at Leicester School of Art and the Ruskin School of Art, Oxford. He began his career as a professional portrait painter and sculptor in the 1970s, and has work in a number of institutions including the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Ten of his works in the National Portrait Gallery collection include portraits of Athol Fugard, H. J. Eysenck and Edmund Blunden. He was also responsible for the portrait of Sir Geoffrey Keynes used as the frontispiece to his 1973 festschift. The present collection, containing around ninety items, is in aged and worn condition.