Documents associated with: Etchings of Venice, The Fine Art Society, London, 1880
Record 14 of 15
System Number: 00165
Date: 22 March [1882][1]
Author: JW
Place: London
Recipient: J. Craibe Angus[2]
Place: [Glasgow]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler A164
Document Type: ALS
March. 22. Wednesday
Dear Mr Craibe Angus -
I must be woefully in your bad books - and well I deserve it -
No one behaves more ill than I do in all matters of correspondence - though I certainly meant to have answered your kind letters[3] long ago -
But I have a fatal habit of putting off - and I fear the letters themselves were at last mislaid -
I certainly am quite willing to sign any proofs[4] for friends or clients of yours - and if they will send them to my [p. 2] Studio at any time I shall be glad to do as you ask -
I told the Fine Art Society to send you a proof of the Carlyle[5] belonging to me - If you keep it will you send cheque direct to me - in Tite Street -
I shall ask you three guineas -
With kind regards
Very sincerely Yours
J. McNeill Whistler
13. Tite St. Chelsea -
When you come to town come and call upon me -
[p. 3] 'J. McNeil[6] [sic] Whistler / March 22nd 1882'
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Notes:
1. 22 March [1882]
Year date from almanac and date written in another hand.
2. J. Craibe Angus
J. Craibe Angus, art dealer, of Craibe Angus and Son, Glasgow [more].
3. letters
Not located.
4. proofs
Possibly from Mr Whistler's Etchings of Venice, 1880 (the first 'Venice Set') (K. 183-189, 191-195). (excat 5).
5. Carlyle
A reference to an engraving of Arrangement in Grey and Black, No. 2: Portrait of Thomas Carlyle (YMSM 137), published in a limited edition by Henry Graves and Co. of Pall Mall in December 1878 (Pennell, Elizabeth Robins, and Joseph Pennell, The Life of James McNeill Whistler, 2 vols, London and Philadelphia, 1908, I, pp. 226-27). Craibe Angus was selling proofs of the engraving. On 15 August 1882, JW offered the original portrait of Carlyle to Craibe Angus for 500 guineas (see JW to J. Craibe Angus, #00166).
6. J. McNeil
Remainder of text written in another hand.