Documents associated with: 2nd [Exhibition], Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1892
Record 6 of 41
System Number: 08347
Date: [5 April 1892][1]
Author: JW
Place: Paris
Recipient: David Croal Thomson[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 3
Document Type: ALS[3]
[date stamp:] GOUPIL AND COMPANY
6 APRIL 92
SUCCESSORS / BOUSSOD VALADON & CO.
33. Rue de Tournon - Paris.
Tuesday -
Dear Sir -
I am very greatly pleased with all the latest news! - Mrs. Whistler[4] wishes me again to thank you and Mr. Marchant[5] for your kind attentions and to say how perfect you made the ladies' visit to the Gallery on Sunday - They were delighted -
A suggestion - What would you think of announcing - now that it appears Mr Hitchcock's[6] show is off - That "at the earnest request of many etc." - the present Exhibition would continue for one week more? - . . What do you think? - I am not at all sure - for I would not for any consideration, have a flagging attendance [p. 2] after this unprecedented success! - The papers keep coming in in piles! and, in all details, you see what a stupendous "event in Bond Street" it has been - I think the visits of the Dowdeswells[7]: - and the Fine Art People - little Mr Brown[8] and the rest of them! - Excellent! - Well of course it must finish in this way - one blaze to the end - and then absolutely vanish - Wherefore it would never do to attempt the extra week if you thought there were the faintest chance of the fever heat subsiding - of the people's interest diminishing - and of its all fizzling, or flickering out in smoke in the last added days -
If it could be done at the same splendid tension of excitement, well it would be a magnificent coup - but you would have to be very sure of your public - and then only announce it on Saturday! - Until then absolute silence -
Indeed it would take those few days for your necessary management of such recalcitrant persons as Mr Lethart[9] and Mr Potter[10]! - Wire me in the morning before other steps - that I may find out absolutely how long they will wait for the pictures for the Champs de Mars[11] - I mean there to have quite a group -
Most important . See the present owner of Mrs Peter Taylor's[12] sea piece - (No. 15.) I must have that for Paris - Give him my compliments and obtain his promise - for the Champs de Mars - By the way Richard[s][13] was to do something to it - Ask how long it would take him - How many days - Perhaps if an extension were decided upon, it would [be] far wiser, and newer - and more chic! and consequently much more sure of astonishing success, to say that the Exhibition would be kept open for three[14] days more only - through the Wednesday? -
Monies - If you like you might pay anything you have for me into Drummond[15] for me now - and again at the end - and arrange accounts afterwards - -
Goupils . Do you know anything further of the possibilities of Mons. Joyant's[16] visit to London? - He has always said he hoped to manage it - But I doubt if they quite understand here how well you have managed all this for them over there - or have really any real sense of its importance - I shall of course tell them how pleased I am - but they ought to see it[17] - and my notion is that in some business way you could manage better than I could - Why not try that one of them should be there for the Saturday? - They ought [to] know that there is nothing like it, and that Bond Street is quite demoralized and faint hearted before it - !
Yours very truly
J. McN. Whistler
This document is protected by copyright.
Envelope:
ToD. C. Thomson Esq,
The Goupil Galleries
116, 117. New Bond St.
London -
Angleterre
[stamp:] POSTE / REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE / 25
[stamp:] POSTE / REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE / 15
[postmarks x 3:] PARIS 6 R. DE VAUGIRARD / 8 5 / AVRIL / 92 [on verso:] LONDON W / 7 / AP 6 / 92 / [illegible]
Notes:
1. [5 April 1892]
Dated from the postmark.
2. David Croal Thomson
David Croal Thomson (1855-1930), art dealer [more]. He had organised JW's exhibiton, Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces, Boussod, Valadon & Cie, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892. He replied on 6 April 1892, #05716.
3. ALS
'24B' was added at the top of p. 1 in red ink, '23B' at the top of the envelope and '24' at the bottom, in an unknown hand.
4. Mrs. Whistler
Beatrix Whistler (1857-1896), née Beatrice Philip, artist [more].
5. Mr. Marchant
William Stephen Marchant (1868-1925), art dealer [more].
6. Mr Hitchcock's
George Hitchcock (1850-1913), painter and illustrator [more].
7. Dowdeswells
London dealers, who had published A Set of twenty-six etchings of Venice, 1886 (the second 'Venice set') (K.196-216, 233-237). (excat 6).
8. Mr Brown
Ernest George Brown (1853 or 1854-1915), assistant manager at the Fine Art Society [more].
9. Mr Lethart
James Leathart (1820-1895), collector [more].
10. Mr Potter
John Charles Potter (1854-1920), wallpaper manufacturer and collector [more].
11. Champs de Mars
2nd Exhibition, Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1892.
12. Mrs Peter Taylor's
Mrs Peter Taylor, wife of the collector [more], who had owned Symphony in Grey and Green: The Ocean (YMSM 72).
13. Richard[s]
Stephen Richards (b. ca 1845), picture restorer [more].
14. three
'three' is double underlined.
15. Drummond
JW's bankers.
16. Mons. Joyant's
Maurice Joyant (1864-1930), art dealer, manager of Boussod, Valadon et Cie [more].
17. ought to see it
'ought to see it' and 'Saturday' are double underlined.