UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

System Number: 01294
Date: 18 September 1895
Author: Ernest George Brown^[1]
Place: London
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler F226
Document Type: ALS

BY SPECIAL APPOINTMENT TO H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES
[royal coat of arms]
FIRST SPECIAL AWARD
SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. 1879
MELBOURNE. 1880
DIPLOMA OF HONOUR VIENNA. 1883
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: "FINART, LONDON."
PLEASE ADDRESS ALL LETTERS TO THE SOCIETY.

THE FINE ART SOCIETY LIMD.
148, NEW BOND ST. W.

Sept 18th 1895

Dear Mr Whistler,

Have you heard anything from Mr Burrell^[2]. I wrote to him and explained exactly what you wanted and since then I have heard nothing. Would you kindly send us back the two pastels^[3] at your convenience. I hear there is to be a big splash made with lithographs[.] Tadema, Leighton, Abbey^[4] and others are doing them. I should like to have shown yours^[5] [p. 2] first. It seems a pity as we have all the material here but of course you have your reasons.

Yours very truly

Ernest G. Brown.

J. A. Whistler Esq^[6]

This document is protected by copyright.

Notes:

1.  Ernest George Brown
Ernest George Brown (1853 or 1854-1915), assistant manager at the Fine Art Society [more].

2.  Mr Burrell
William Burrell (1861-1958), ship-owner and collector [more].

3.  two pastels
It is not entirely clear which of Burrell's pastels were in need of repair. He may have owned four pastels at this time, The Purple Iris (M.397), r.: Morning Glories; v.: Nude study (M.410), San Giovanni Apostolo et Evangelistae (M.783), and Mother and child (M.1288), as well as two watercolours, Amsterdam in Winter (M.877) and Convalescent or Petit Déjeuner; note in opal (M.903). He eventually sold all these, but acquired, and kept, two more pastels,The Bridge; flesh colour and brown (M.759) andModèle drapé (M.1071).

4.  Tadema, Leighton, Abbey
Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1836-1912), painter [more], Frederic Leighton (1830-1896), painter and sculptor [more], and Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911), painter and illustrator [more].

5.  yours
The Fine Art Society was successful in persuading JW to have a show of his lithographs, Mr Whistler's Lithographs, The Fine Art Society, London, 1895. The exhibition opened on 7 December.

6.  J A Whistler
James Abbott Whistler was JW's baptismal name but by this date he always signed himself James McNeill Whistler.