Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Rachel Hodgkins
Date
20 Feb 1908
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Object Detail
Date
20 Feb 1908
Transcript
Pennock’s Hotel Dordrecht Feb: 20th 1908
My darling Mother
A welcome letter from you came this morning (this stylo is a disgusting little blotter) bringing the good news of the safe arrival of the pictures & the general satisfaction in Art circles. Thanks for the clippings – Miss Richmond’s letter was very short & enthusiastic. I hardly dare open it – I certainly should not have had the courage if your letter had not given me a hint of their good reception. I felt I could not bear any more rebuffs or blows from any quarter. My spirits bounded after I read her letter & I straightway sent on the good news to Mr Garstin who had been waiting as eagerly as I have for news. We did our conscientious best but of course so few people think alike about pictures. When the collection is completed by the arrival of the 3 other pictures now on their way to you I think you will all have cause to be proud of Gallery. I am glad they realise that they have got good value for their money for indeed they have. I have already posted a parcel of six drawings for Wills care. I hope he will not have any bother with duty. He must deduct expenses from sales if he has. I am sending you by this mail under separate cover a small drawing of a woman’s head for your own special self, it being the most likely to sell. I am sending it to you – it was not ready to go with the last batch. I think you should ask £10 for it. Don’t let it go for nothing because it is careful work not done in a day by any means. I will send it to Central Terrace & you could give it to Sis to have framed with the other. Tomorrow I am going with Mr Moll to the Hague to have a final attempt to sell my [erased] Rembrandt. It is a forlorn hope I fear but it is worth trying. He is not Rembrandt – but Mr Moll is jubilant over a successful little show he is having in London – it opened yesterday & this morning he had news of the sale of 7 water colours – some people have all the luck – to he who hath shall be given.
This afternoon I went to inspect the Orphan House with a view to sketching there. There were about 80 little orphans in neat little grey & black dresses some were pretty but most of them were prodigious plain. I am going on Monday to paint there. I found a good subject in the sewing room – a large white-walled room with rows of stiff little orphans stitching busily away under the watchful eye of a large ample chested woman big enough to be the mother of all the 80 orphans. I was quite proud of my Dutch & got on famously. I wound up my visit by signing my name on the next page in the Visitor’s Book to Wilhelmina – Regina. I liked my handwriting better than hers – not so legible perhaps for State purposes but more artistic. I was so delighted to hear of your intended visit to Otaki – I hope you went this time. You say you are sending me an Xmas present. I do hope you will not seeing I have asked you for a loan but I am afraid you may have sent it by this time. If you did not send that mysterious £5 at Xmas then who did? Please try & find out for me – was it Willie do you think?
Have you been reading anything interesting lately? I would dearly love a good book. I have been enjoying a book about elephants in India. I feel a dull dog tonight dear. I am very tired & only good for bed – a hot bath & a hot bottle are what my soul covets – so good night to you my Mother dear. I go to bed to dream of you far away in your little Dominion. Take care of yourself Dear – next mail I hope to hear of the Otaki expedition – now don’t dare to back out of it. Love to you all from your loving Frances
My darling Mother
A welcome letter from you came this morning (this stylo is a disgusting little blotter) bringing the good news of the safe arrival of the pictures & the general satisfaction in Art circles. Thanks for the clippings – Miss Richmond’s letter was very short & enthusiastic. I hardly dare open it – I certainly should not have had the courage if your letter had not given me a hint of their good reception. I felt I could not bear any more rebuffs or blows from any quarter. My spirits bounded after I read her letter & I straightway sent on the good news to Mr Garstin who had been waiting as eagerly as I have for news. We did our conscientious best but of course so few people think alike about pictures. When the collection is completed by the arrival of the 3 other pictures now on their way to you I think you will all have cause to be proud of Gallery. I am glad they realise that they have got good value for their money for indeed they have. I have already posted a parcel of six drawings for Wills care. I hope he will not have any bother with duty. He must deduct expenses from sales if he has. I am sending you by this mail under separate cover a small drawing of a woman’s head for your own special self, it being the most likely to sell. I am sending it to you – it was not ready to go with the last batch. I think you should ask £10 for it. Don’t let it go for nothing because it is careful work not done in a day by any means. I will send it to Central Terrace & you could give it to Sis to have framed with the other. Tomorrow I am going with Mr Moll to the Hague to have a final attempt to sell my [erased] Rembrandt. It is a forlorn hope I fear but it is worth trying. He is not Rembrandt – but Mr Moll is jubilant over a successful little show he is having in London – it opened yesterday & this morning he had news of the sale of 7 water colours – some people have all the luck – to he who hath shall be given.
This afternoon I went to inspect the Orphan House with a view to sketching there. There were about 80 little orphans in neat little grey & black dresses some were pretty but most of them were prodigious plain. I am going on Monday to paint there. I found a good subject in the sewing room – a large white-walled room with rows of stiff little orphans stitching busily away under the watchful eye of a large ample chested woman big enough to be the mother of all the 80 orphans. I was quite proud of my Dutch & got on famously. I wound up my visit by signing my name on the next page in the Visitor’s Book to Wilhelmina – Regina. I liked my handwriting better than hers – not so legible perhaps for State purposes but more artistic. I was so delighted to hear of your intended visit to Otaki – I hope you went this time. You say you are sending me an Xmas present. I do hope you will not seeing I have asked you for a loan but I am afraid you may have sent it by this time. If you did not send that mysterious £5 at Xmas then who did? Please try & find out for me – was it Willie do you think?
Have you been reading anything interesting lately? I would dearly love a good book. I have been enjoying a book about elephants in India. I feel a dull dog tonight dear. I am very tired & only good for bed – a hot bath & a hot bottle are what my soul covets – so good night to you my Mother dear. I go to bed to dream of you far away in your little Dominion. Take care of yourself Dear – next mail I hope to hear of the Otaki expedition – now don’t dare to back out of it. Love to you all from your loving Frances
Pages
4 pages
Sender's address
Pennock's Hotel, Dordrecht.
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-20
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-20.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22889192
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22889192