Documents associated with: Winter Exhibition, Society of British Artists, London, 1886-1887
Record 16 of 23
System Number: 07881
Date: [November / December 1886?][1]
Author: JW
Place: [London]
Recipient: Horace Henry Cauty[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 1/8/1
Document Type: ALS[3]
Gentlemen -
My plan for the decoration as you all know was finally to embrace the gilded daido[4] in all the rooms - Meanwhile you are now suffering uselessly in the matter of the color on the daido in the 4 small rooms - for you might [have] known that if I am satisfied it is because I have thoroughly completed the color scheme that should not reveal to the public the poverty of purse that made the Society halt [p. 2] in their expenditure - This much faith Gentlemen you might have had in me -
However, I am well pleased that you should do at once what would have been done next year -
I have Gentlemen the honor to be
Your obedt Servant
J McN. Whistler
[p. 3] To Horace Cauty Esq Hon Secretary
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [November/December 1886 ?]
JW was elected President of the Society of British Artists in June and took office in December 1886; this letter may date from shortly before the opening of Winter Exhibition, Society of British Artists, London, 1886-1887.
2. Horace Cauty
Horace Henry Cauty (1846-1909), historical and genre painter [more].
3. ALS
The letter is a single sheet, written in pencil, and folded so that p. 3 becomes the cover, with the address; the letter would have been delivered by hand.
4. gilded daido
JW ordered the redecoration of the SBA exhibition galleries in Suffolk Street.