UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

The Corresponence of James McNeil Whistler

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Documents associated with: 1st International Exhibition of the Union of Austrian Artists, Vereinigung Bildender Künstler, Vienna, 1898
Record 2 of 7

System Number: 11538
Date: [December 1897 / January 1898][1]
Author: JW
Place: [Paris]
Recipient: [unknown]
Repository: Published
Document Type: PLfc[2]


[...] It appears that there is to be an Exposition International[3] in something like a month's time, and I learn that the persevering humbug of the Surgery[4] has had himself made President of the Etching department for England!

You can see him from here arranging papers and pigeon holing lies and preparing to pounce upon the prize - whatever that may be [...]

First then I ought to meet the Viennese Commissioner and I ought to arrive at sending the mass of my etchings so that they should be properly seen in their own frames. Then they ought to know that I had the Gold Medal from Holland[5] (pays de Rembrant[6] [sic]!) and thus of course I ought to have the Gold Medal in Vienna. [...]

[butterfly signature]


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Notes:

1.  [December 1897 / January 1898]
Dated by the reference to an exhibition (see below).

2.  PLfc
Incomplete text, taken from a sale catalogue, Maggs, sale 652, London, 1937 (cat. no. 876) described as '4 pp., oblong, 8vo', for sale at £1 1s.

3.  Exposition International
By 12 February 1898 JW had a list of works ready to exhibit at the 1st International Exhibition, Vereinigung Bildender Kϋnstler, Vienna, 1898 (#12759). He was in touch with George Sauter and E. G. Kennedy regarding the arrangements (see #09722).

4.  the persevering humbug of the Surgery
Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more].

5.  Gold Medal from Holland
JW had received a gold medal at Tentoonstelling van Kunstwerken van Levende Meesters, Amsterdam, 1889.

6.  Rembrant
Rembrandt Harmens van Rijn (1606-1669), painter and etcher [more].