WATTS SAYS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN A PENNY FOR HIS PAINTING ‘PROGRESS’ WATTS (George Frederic, 1817-1904, O.M., R.A., Painter and Sculptor)

Autograph Letter Signed to “Dear Lady Aberdeen” saying that he doesn’t “care as a rule very much about what is thought of my work regarded as picture making but I do greatly care about my intention being understood & I am greatly pleased by your recognition of what I have sought to convey by my picture. Progress. I am sorry I can’t beg your acceptance of the picture, I never should have taken a penny for work of that class (that direction of object,) but i have never been any thing but a Working Man! I really don’t know where the Photograph Rachel showed you is to be found but I think Mr Hollyer of Pembroke Square Kengsington probably took it & will have prints of it...”, 2 sides 8vo., Limnerslease, Guildford, 22nd April

Watts is famous for his portraits, vast canvases and designs for murals in the Houses of Parliament, and symbolic pictures such as ‘Hope’.
The picture ‘Progress’ was painted circa 1902-04 and he described it as “the figures in garlands of smearched gold, grovelling in the dust 'money grubbing'”. This letter is probably written to Lady Ishbel, Marchioness of Aberdeen who was a British writer, philanthropist, and an advocate of women's interests.
Frederick HOLLYER (1838-1933) was a photographer and Engraver known for his photographic reproductions of paintings and drawings, particularly those of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, and for portraits of literary and artistic figures of late Victorian and Edwardian London

Item Date:  1904

Stock No:  42662      £125

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