ART

The proprietor, T. H. Watkins, was a private tutor in Kensington, west London, who over a number of years placed a series of advertisements in The Times, the last of which, 9 September 1895, boasted that his 'pupils during 25 years have taken the highest places for I.C.S., F.O., Interpreterships, Woolwich Staff Coll., Sandhurst, Coopers-hill, Woods and Forests, Militia, &c.' Watkins was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, and his entry in Peile's 'Biographical Register' of the college (1913) states that he was 'son of Thomas: born in London. Educated at Bonn University.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with some damage ay foot of reverse of second leaf (not affecting signature) caused by removal from mount. The letter presumably dates from before Boxall's appointment as Director of the National Gallery in 1866, when he all but gave up painting. It is addressed to 'Dr. Hooker', and the recipient is either Sir William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865) or his son Sir Joseph Hooker (1817-1911), successively Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The 'Gentlemen' are clearly the publishers of a book which they wish Bell to review. She writes that she is greatly obliged to them for offering her 'a copy of your beautiful book on Japan', and has written 'to 4 editors to ask for space for early notices of it'. The book is 'indeed a marvel of technical skill in reproduction & it would be a pleasure to me to speak as highly of it as it deserves'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. The year of writing is supplied in a contemporary hand. Beside his address at the head if the ketter Tayler writes: 'This will sound tarnation rural in the catalogue.' He begins the letter by explaining that he is 'dating from my little Cottage here', and that he has let his house in town, 'reducing my Rent to less than half and I can paint to more purpose and without interruption of idle Callers here'. The delay in replying has been occasioned by 'so much of bustle and packing'.

According to one source: 'Known as Daisy, American-born Rosalie Gill arrived in St Ives in 1887. She spent much time in Newlyn, where she enjoyed the theatrical productions of the Newlyn artists, contributing an oil painting to the West Cornwall Art Union exhibition in Penzance in September that year. She eventually returned to St Ives in 1890, and exhibited a St Ives title at the 1893 Chicago World Columbian Exposition. She died in Paris in 1898.' 2pp., 12mo. Oddly laid out on one side of a folded 4to leaf. In good condition, lightly aged and creased.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Craft and his wife have 'just heard with surprise of the great loss' Forbes has 'so suddenly sustained', and send their 'sincere sympathy for you in so sudden a bereavement'. They extend their condolences to Forbes's mother, and Craft explains that his wife has not written to her personally, as she did not wish 'to add to the burden that unfortunately she is now compelled to bear'. From the Forbes papers, from which other Newlyn items are offered separately.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition. Addressed to 'Dear Mrs Forbes', and expressing his 'sincerest sympathy' in her 'present affliction'. Her sorrow will be 'shared by all who knew your late husband & appreciated his genial disposition'. From the Forbes papers, from which other Newlyn items are offered separately.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The letter begins: 'My dear Forbes | It is impossible to tell you how shocked and grieved I was at receiving such sad news this morning. | It came to me as the greatest surprise and I can hardly realize that it is true that this terrible blow has come upon you all.' He had wanted to write to Forbes's mother, but could only 'say again what I have already said'. He continues: 'My thoughts go back to Newlyn and I think of the many pleasant hours I spent with your Mother and Father and I can hardly believe that one is gone.

4pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. A splendid long letter in a close hand, revealing and informative, written a year after Fletcher had completed his masterpiece 'Evicted', painted at Steventon, and the first painting acquired by Queensland Art Gallery in 1895. Addressed to 'My dear Forbes', the letter begins: 'Your letter reached me yesterday having been sent on from home to the above address | Yes! Indeed you have my deepest sympathy.

For information about Forbes, see Elizabeth Knowles's 2017 biography. A total of 27pp., on seven 12mo bifoliums, each with a mourning border. The collection in good condition, lightly aged and worn. Seven letters, six of them addressed to 'Dearest Mother' and the other to 'My dearest Mother'. The seven letters are all written around the end of 1888 and beginning of 1889, and reflect Forbes's concern at his mother's low spirits following the death of his father. There are two letters from 30 December [1888].

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. He offers him a choice of engravings, explaining his constraints; 'Aussi vous savez entre amis et artists un traitement secondaire sera indigne'. There is also Haden had strong connections with France; according to his entry in the Oxford DNB, he completed 'his professional studies in the medical schools of the Sorbonne, Paris, and Grenoble, where he acted as prosecteur in 1839, and, later, lecturer on surgical anatomy at the military hospital'.

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. A spirited and characteristic letter. He begins by explaining that he has been 'exceedingly tormented with neuralgia for the last week' and is 'still very ill at ease'. He has not been 'out of doors for some time - & tis quite impossible just now'. He regrets 'missing Dear Old Mozart - & seeing you all', but hopes to 'make up for the loss by being most dreadfully pleasant'.

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium with mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. He writes that he has only just received Allchin's letter on his return from the country. 'Please ask Sir George Burrows to call at any hour in the day most convenient to himself.'

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Addressed to 'W. H. Allchin Esq'. The 'arrangements for the intended Exhibition of the works of the old Masters have already progressed too far' for 'any further works offered [...] on loan' to be considered for acceptance.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The recipient is an unnamed man and the subject is Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee Procession, London, 21 June 1887. Asking for tickets, if there are 'any good places left', 'to view the procession of the 21st.'

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. She apologises for having missed Mrs Allchin's 'party at the Prince's Hall', as she had to meet her husband 'in Paris on his way home from Italy, and we were detained there longer than we had expected'. She had hoped that they both could have attended the party, but they were 'detained there longer than we had expected'. Louisa Starr married the civil engineer and industrialist Enrico Canziani (1848-1931) in Dover in 1882.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'Dear Sir William | Many thanks for your letter | We will be with you tomorrow Tuesday by 11. o'c'.

2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn. The letter begins: 'My dear Johnnie - | I saw you in Marlow Church the Sunday before last & recognised you although when I saw you last you had long curls falling on your shoulders 10 years ago!' He hopes to meet with him if he is still at Marlow when he goes there again. 'Edward stayed here for a week a short time ago.' The letter concludes: 'I often think of my Whitbourne days & Barkie & the good times we had.' From the papers of the Harington baronets of Whitbourne Court. Batson was a student of theology at Oxford in 1881.

1p., 16mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He has been called away at the last moment, and asks him to 'tell Mr. Brown anything that you may have to arrange respecting the Phiz Exhibition'. From the papers of Arthur Allchin. The Athenaeum reported in 1883 that 'Mr. Arthur Allchin, who was an intimate friend of the late Hablot K. Browne, has written an article on his life and work which will appear shortly in the Century Magazine, and will be copiously illustrated from original drawings by " Phiz."'

The three items in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: ALS. 'Saturday' [no date]. Burlington House. 1p., 12mo. On grey paper with mourning border. Addressed to 'Dear Doctor'. Allchin arranged to go to see him on the following Monday or Tuesday. 'I find I shall be receiving new students from 9.30 to 11 on Monday - Can you therefore keep your visit for Tuesday?' TWO: ANS. Addressed to 'Dear Dr Allchin'. Monday, 23 April [ no year ]. On Athenaeum letterhead, and clearly concerning Allchin's election as a member.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Reads: 'My dear Sir | I have great pleasure in accepting your invitation to dinner on Tuesday next. | Yours very faithfully | C. L. Eastlake'.

2pp., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. Mourning border. The recipient's 'most entertaining note' finds Tayler 'just starting off to Highgate'. He only has time 'for a line in reply', and he ventures 'at the risk of being thought impertinent' to advise the recipient's mother not to 'put too Fanciful a price on the Sketches, but let them go to the advancement of the Charity with all their imperfections on their heads'. Tayler considers himself 'the obliged party', and ends with his best respects.

1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. He begins: 'Any time after Jany 7th will suit me perfectly for making the drawing, before Xmas day I am afraid I could not begin it.' He has 'too great fellowship with those who labor, not to respect all holy days as very sacred things'.

Wyon studied at the Royal Academy schools from 1829, and became a celebrated sculptor, exhibiting at the Royal Academy regularly from 1831 to 1876. Among his commissions were works intended for reproduction by Wedgwood as well as numerous portrait busts. 1p., 12mo. In good condition, lightly aged. The subject of the letter is Chantrey's 1847 statue of Reginald Heber (1783-1826), Bishop of Calcutta, now in St Paul's Cathedral in that city.

8pp., 12mo. On two bifololiums with mourning borders. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Addressed to 'monsieur Townsend'. From the papers of Captain Cecil William Townsend of the Warwickshire Yeomanry, Dunsterforce and Norperforce, and the British Military Mission to South Russia. Gampert is still at college as he writes, and the reference to the 'boches' dates the letter to the First World War. Gampert begins by explaining the reason for the delay in writing, with reference to 'Mlle Trithen'.

104pp., 4to. Unbound page proofs. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. In worn envelope with printed details of 'The Studio Publications', addressed to 'Edward Carrick, Esq., | G.P.O. Film Unit, | Soho Square, | London, W.C.', amended to '20 Gordon Place', 'W.8.' This was Craig's foremost work, highly influential. Comprising eight signatures of text, each initialled by him with the date 6 March 1941, seven of them with stamp in red ink: 'MARKED PROOF'; together with two signatures of illustrations on art paper, included in the pagination, one of them also signed and initalled.

1p., 16mo. With mourning border. In good condition, lightly aged. Begins: 'Dear Lady Wynn | I thank you from the depths of my heart for your kind letter. I enclose you a word portrait of my splendid wife. More I dare not write or I shall not regain the strength I need to carry out her wishes in life.' As the Oxford DNB explains, after the death of his first wife in 1883 'Herkomer married, on 14 August 1884, a Welsh nurse, Lulu Griffiths (b. 1849), who had been a member of his household since 1874. He was devastated by her sudden death a year later.'

2pp., 12mo. On bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged, with minor damage in margin at the gutter of the second leaf caused by removal from stub. Addressed to 'Sir Edwin Landseer RA | &c &c'. A week from the writing of the letter Frith is expecting 'a few artists & others to tea-supper smoke-whist &c'. He explains that the group usually meets 'about eight supper at ten or half past. We should all be pleased if you can be induced to give us the pleasure of your company.

12 pp., 8vo. Modern marbled bds. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. This interesting item is of significance to Ruskin scholars, containing a whole page describing 24 drawings and engravings by him, as well as a number of interesting books from the library of a close associate. The item was previously bound by Rossetti in a volume with two, unrelated, others. It then passed into the collection of the art historian Rose Sketchley, whose sister C. J. Sketchley presented it to Fulham Public Libraries in 1949. It is scarce: no copy has been traced on either OCLC WorldCat or COPAC.

1p., 4to. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. The letter reads: 'Dear Sir/ | I am very pleased to hear you like my pictures and seem so well acquainted with them - | I hope you will go on taking an interest in Art. | I am | Yours Sincerely | Arthur Hacker'.