UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

System Number: 05491
Date: 9 February 1888
Author: Octave Maus^[1]
Place: Brussels
Recipient: JW
Place: London
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler S136
Document Type: ALS

[design:] LES XX
BRUXELLES

SECRÉTARIAT: RUE DU BERGER, 27, BRUXELLES.

Mon cher Maître et ami

Je n'ai pas répondu plus tôt à votre lettre^[2], parcequ'ayant reçu avis qu'une nouvelle caisse venant de Londres était arrivée en gare à l'adresse des XX, j'ai voulu attendre le déballage pour vous donner des nouvelles de votre envoi complémentaire.

Mais jusqu'ici les employés de chemin de fer ne nous ont pas encore délivré la caisse, et force m'est de restreindre les nouvelles que j'ai à vous donner à vos deux premières caisses.

Celles-ci sont arrivées à Bruxelles en [p. 2] parfait état, et vos tableaux, pastels et eaux-fortes, très-bien placés, font l'admiration de tous les visiteurs. C'est sans doute le Souvenir de Cremorne^[3] qui est le retardataire? Tous les autres, envois annoncés (portrait, 2 pastels, 4 eaux-fortes) sont en place. - Aussitôt que la caisse sera parvenu au Salon, je la ferai déballer et je vous écrirai si le tableau n'a pas souffert du voyage.

Je vous ai adressé hier un exemplaire du Catalogue^[4] - Grand tapage, naturellement, grand Scandale, et, pour nous, succès complet.

Bien amicalement à vous

Octave Maus

9 - fév - 88

This document is protected by copyright.

Translation:

My dear Master and friend

I have not answered your letter earlier, because having received advice that a new case coming from London had arrived at the station addressed to Les XX, I wanted to await the unpacking to give you news of your further shipment.

But until now the railway employees have still not delivered the case, and I am obliged to restrict the news which I have to give you to your first two cases.

These arrived in Brussels in [ p. 2 ] perfect state, and your pictures, pastels and etchings, very well placed, are admired by all the visitors. It is doubtless the Souvenir of Cremorne which is the latecomer? All the others, listed shipments (portrait, 2 pastels, 4 etchings) are in place. - As soon as the case arrives at the Salon, I will have it unpacked and I shall write to you if the picture has suffered from the journey.

I have sent you one copy of the Catalogue - A great stir, naturally, great Scandal, and, for us, complete success.

Very sincerely yours

Octave Maus

Notes:

1.  Octave Maus
Octave Maus (1856-1919), advocate, writer and art critic [more].

2.   lettre
An unidentified letter dating from between c. 27 January and 9 February, about which JW sent an anxious telegram (#09243) to Maus seeking an answer. This letter is a reply to the telegram. See also other letters dating from January and February 1888 (see JW to O. Maus, #09237, #09239 and #09242, Maus to JW, #05489, #05490, #05491) which document the safe passage of eight works by JW, his contribution to the [Exhibition], Société des XX (Vingts), Brussels, 1888. These included Arrangement in Black and Brown: The Fur Jacket (YMSM 181), Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel (YMSM 169) and St James's Place, Houndsditch (K.290).

3.  Souvenir de Cremorne
That is, Nocturne: Black and Gold - The Fire Wheel, mentioned above. After the exhibition, JW intended to send works including etchings, drawings and YMSM 181 to Paris for the Exposition, Galerie Durand-Ruel, Paris, 1888 in May.

4.  Catalogue
A reference to the catalogue of the Brussels exhibition. All the artists were asked to design the page on which their entries appeared. A facsimile of this appeared in the catalogue.