Documents associated with: 2nd Summer Exhibition, Grosvenor Gallery, London, 1878
Record 1 of 20
System Number: 12486
Date: 6 May 1877
Author: Anna Benson Procter[1]
Place: London
Recipient: George Forrest[2]
Place: [India?]
Repository: Huntington Library, San Marino, CA
Credit Line: © The Huntington Library
Document Type: ALS[3]
Queen Anne's Mansion - S W
May 6th. 1877.
My dear George.
I had the enclosed last night - and altho. I know the Indian Mail does not go out until Saturday, it seems to me as if you could have her letter sooner -
[...]
Mrs Fanny Kemble[4] is now in England - you must see her, she is so amusing - so clever, and has such a voice - like Music - The London World [h]as [p. 2] been torn to pieces between the Grosvenor Gallery[5] - and the Royal Academy - The pictures seem equally bad - Every one is at his worst - so be thankful for being away - we dined with the Probyns[6] one day & [Edith?] was handed down by
Whistler
She considered herself very fortunate - I had a stupid Old Admiral - I had some talk with him after dinner. He has a high opinion of himself - He has sent some pictures to the Gros.r Gallery - a Nocturne in black & gold[7][,] a nocturne in blue & gold - Harmony in Amber & black - Arrangement in brown-! I see nothing that I like, nearly so well as the black & white[8] you took me to see.
Whenever I find a man so self satisfied as Whistler I begin to doubt.
My book[9] is a great success. You will be surprised to see how well I write.
[...]
Yr affect old friend
Anna B Procter
[...]
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. Anna Benson Procter
Anne Benson Procter (1799-1888), writer [more].
2. George Forrest
Colonel George Forrest (1846-1904), army officer [more].
3. ALS
Only sections of this letter relating to JW have been transcribed.
4. Fanny Kemble
Fanny Kemble (1809-1893), actress [more].
5. Grosvenor Gallery
JW exhibited seven oils at the 1st Summer Exhibition, Grosvenor Gallery, London, 1877 (cat. nos. 5, 6A, 6, 4, 8, 9 and one ex. cat) (YMSM 113, 140, 145, 170, 181, 182, 187 and 137 respectively). The ones referred to in this letter were probably Nocturne: Blue and Gold - Old Battersea Bridge (YMSM 140) exhibited as 'Nocturne in Blue and Silver', Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket (YMSM 170), Arrangement in Black and Brown: The Fur Jacket (YMSM 181) exhibited as 'Harmony in Amber and Black', and Arrangement in Brown (YMSM 182).
6. Probyns
Sir Dighton Macnaghten Probyn (1833-1924), Secretary to the Prince of Wales [more], and his wife.
7. Nocturne in black & gold
Nocturne in Black and Gold: The Falling Rocket (YMSM 170).
8. black & white
Probably Arrangement in White and Black (YMSM 185), which was not exhibited at the Grosvenor until the following year.
9. book
Not identified.