Documents associated with: World's Columbian Exposition, Department of Fine Arts, Chicago, 1893
Record 9 of 113
System Number: 07197
Date: 9 July 1892
Author: Edward Guthrie Kennedy[1]
Place: [New York]
Recipient: JW
Place: [Paris]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler W1185
Document Type: ALS
[scroll:] H. WUNDERLICH & CO.
H W & CO.
RARE PRINTS
868 B'WAY N- Y-
July 9 / 92
Dear Mr. Whistler,
It is now 8.45 a.m. and I hasten before breakfast to lay before you the result of my interview with Mr. McCormack[2] [sic] 72 Victoria St., the Chic[a]go fair Commissioner. I approached him about your exhibit, and he told me that when your exhibition was at Goupils[3], he wrote to you apropos of an exhibit at Chicago[4] & invited you to dine with him, but his letter never received any notice. He says that they have applications for more than double the space in the building. The Fine arts Commissioner - Halsey C. Ives[5] was over here, & Mr. McCormack says that he understood you were in correspondence with him. As to insurance of pictures &c., I cannot find out anything until I hear from Mr. Ives, to whom I shall write a long letter when on board the "Majestic" & post it on my arrival home. Meantime, with your approval, Dunthorne[6] will secure as many pictures from the gentlemen who own them, as he can. But - and here is the main thing - who is responsible in case of damage or fire? Until this is settled, nothing can be done. Mr. McCormack has written or will write to Mr. Ives, but I think I can arrange the matter much better [p. 2] myself in America where I am in closer touch. Meanwhile would it not be well to drop McCormick a line? Any influence of the powers that be is valuable in case it should be required.
As you are aware, I sail on the 13th from Liverpool on the Majestic & on 14th from Queenstown and shall be in N. Y. on the 20th at business. When do you go to the Sea Side? Dunthorne speaks of an exhibition of your pictures - pastels water colours &c. and I should imagine that his gallery would be just the place. However, you know about these things better than I do.
When can I calculate on your exhibition? I should like to make my plans ahead. As to the pictures from Richards[7], I suppose they are to be insured, as in case of accident, it is too much risk.
[illegible text]
They are to go without glass, as there is too much risk in transportation of glass. I am here on Monday & leave early on Tuesday [p. 3] morning. I have not heard from you since my last letter, but hope to get a line on Monday.
With best wishes, & hoping that at your convenience, I may get a look at the man in the garden[8],
I am,
Yours very truly,
E. G. Kennedy.
I have written to Richards to insure the pictures[9] in transit for £600 /- /-. Pray excuse obliterations[10].
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. Edward Guthrie Kennedy
Edward Guthrie Kennedy (1849-1932), dealer with H. Wunderlich and Co., New York [more].
2. Mr. McCormack
Robert Sanderson McCormick (1849-1919), diplomat and politician [more], was the official representative of the World's Columbian exhibition in London, 1892-3.
3. Goupils
Nocturnes, Marines and Chevalet Pieces, Boussod, Valadon & Cie, Goupil Gallery, London, 1892.
4. Chicago
World's Columbian Exposition, Department of Fine Arts, Chicago, 1893.
5. Halsey C. Ives
Halsey Cooley Ives (1847-1911), painter [more].
6. Dunthorne
Robert Dunthorne (b. ca 1851), of the Rembrandt Gallery, print dealer and publisher [more].
7. Richards
Stephen Richards (b. ca 1845), picture restorer [more]. He had been restoring several pictures including The Last of Old Westminster (YMSM 39), and Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony (YMSM 56).
8. man in the garden
A portrait etching of Kennedy, later destroyed.
9. pictures
The Last of Old Westminster (YMSM 39), Battersea Reach (YMSM 45), and Variations in Flesh Colour and Green: The Balcony (YMSM 56).
10. obliterations
Between 'risk' and 'They are to go' four and a half lines of text have been totally blacked out and are illegible.