Documents associated with: 76th Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 1902
Record 1 of 2
System Number: 01874
Date: 27 January 1902
Author: James Guthrie[1]
Place: Glasgow
Recipient: JW
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler G239
Document Type: ALS
7, WOODSIDE PLACE,
GLASGOW.
January 27th / 1902
Dear Mr. Whistler
It gave me keen pleasure to find on my return after an absence of several days, your more than kind letter.
I hope you succeed in your quest, & that you will lay in good store of health - for truly without it everything is nothing.
If anything could add to my relish in this R. S. A.[2] matter your generous treatment of me would do so.
Sir George Reid[3], to whom I gave your courteous message, is much gratified & writes [p. 2] to express his pleasure that we can now go on.
The procedure is for notice to [be] given at a General Assembly of the Academy, & for the matter to be dealt with at the succeeding similar meeting.
There will be at least two such meetings between this date & the end of March so that the latter time should see all settled.
When in London in November I told Walton[4] of my wish to have something of yours in the coming R. S. A. Exhibition & the thought of that lovely picture[5] [p. 3] in Mr Studd's[6] possession at Chelsea.
On my informally mentioning this to my colleagues at on the Council of the Academy the liveliest desire was expressed that the picture shd: be specially invited. So far as we know it has never been seen in Scotland - certainly not in Edinburgh.
A few weeks ago I wrote to Walton telling him how much the picture wd: be appreciated, & asking him to see Mr. Studd, & if the picture could be got - to com[m]unicate with you for permission - Walton wrote replied that he had seen Mr Studd [p. 4] & that the latter wd. be most happy to lend the picture subject to your permission - the more so that he was to be from home this year at the time of the Exhibition. Later Walton wrote to say that he had seen you on the subject & that you would consider the matter -
Now I hope you will add to your kindnesses by giving permission. As the picture however must be in Edinburgh not later than Saturday next February 1st there is little time available. So forgive me for begging you to give your decision on enclosed telegraph form. If it is "Yes"! shall have all arrangements made at[7] once.
With every good wish
Yours always truly
James Guthrie
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Notes:
1. James Guthrie
James Guthrie (1859-1930), landscape and portrait painter [more].
2. R. S. A.
JW was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Scottish Academy. See JW's letter to Guthrie, #01873.
3. Sir George Reid
Sir George Reid (1841-1913), painter, President of the Royal Scottish Academy [more].
4. Walton
Edward Arthur Walton (1860-1922), painter [more].
5. picture
Symphony in White, No. 2: The Little White Girl (YMSM 52) was shown at the 76th Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, 1902.
6. Mr Studd's
Arthur ('Peter') Haythorne Studd (1863-1919), painter and collector [more].
7. made at...Guthrie
The remainder of the letter is written in the left margin of p. 4 at right angles to the main text.