THE FOREIGN PICTURES WERE “SO WRETCHEDLY PAINTED THAT IT SEEM TO ME AS IF THEY MUST HAVE BEEN PAINTED BY A SET OF DEVILS...”
WOOLNER
(Thomas, 1825-1892, Pre-Raphaelite Sculptor)
Fine Long Autograph Letter Signed to Mr White
saying he is “steadily on the look out for a few minutes to chat with you and have begun this so that I may go on with it as time may offer. My wife hunted out a catalogue of the 2nd year of the Old Masters, which I sent straightway, as I knew that it would amuse you to have many of the beautiful old friends of your youth brought before you again. I have seen Reid and am happy to say that the account he gives of his wife is hopeful, for she is a great deal better and he spoke in a cheerful frame of mind. I cannot give you so good an account of poor Pearce, but I am happy to say that he is a trifle better than he has been; they have had a great Doctor in who says that he may rally for a time but that he never will be well again. It is very sad to think of one so good and kind having no life henceforth but a life of suffering. The ‘Grenoble’ Turner drawing fetched 1400 guineas at Broderipp’s sale, and many other drawings almost the same in proportion to their quality; the fact is that works of art in a well accredited collection go to almost any price now a days. I was shown a drawing by Turner, the ‘Falls of the Clyde’ which was just sold for 1600. I confess it is one of the finest I ever saw. There was one of ‘Cassiobury’ which was sold for £1000. I went yesterday with my wife to look at a large coll; of foreign pictures at Crockford old gambling Rooms in St. James’ street; and they were so horrible in feeling, morbid or mawkish, or evil, and so wretchedly painted that it seems to me as if they must have been painted by a set of devils, or perhaps for the want of power in them, I ought say devilkins. We then went to the Dudley Gallery of the rising young bloods in water colours, and the work there did not look so morbid and wicked as the foreigners but, as if all the drawings came from various young ladies schools and were the show drawings the girls took home on holidays to show their parents... We went for another peep at the Old Masters, and I found that the public complained bitterly of the Exhibition and said there were not enough pictures for their shillings. You as a philosopher of large Art experience know well enough that the day for studying art is past and now the time for ostentatious swallowing is come instead. My wife was grieved to hear of Mrs White’s illness...”, 4 sides 8vo, 29 Welbeck St, 18th February
Item Date:
1872
Stock No:
43568
£275
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WOOLNER
(Thomas, 1825-1892, Pre-Raphaelite Sculptor)
Autograph Letter Signed to Mrs Hooker
saying that he finds that "the carter, who was sent by my plasterman to fetch the modelling traps, brought away sundry pans and basins thinking they belonged to the plasterman; will you have the goodness just to mention this circumstance at Sir Williams' and say that they shall be sent the first opportunity as soon as the man gets rid of a rheumatism which keeps him at present to his house? My kindest remembrances to Dr Hooker and to my little friends ...", 1 side 8vo., 27 Rutland St. N.W.,12th June, no year but circa
Item Date:
1859
Stock No:
41114
£275
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ZINKEISEN
(Anna, d. 1976, Portrait Painter)
Fine signature on card
n.d., c.
Item Date:
1950
Stock No:
50791
£45
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