Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Rachel Hodgkins
Date
05 Sep 1909
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Date
05 Sep 1909
Transcript
Montreuil Sept 5
My dearest Mother
I send you a few snap shots – only 1 of them much good but I send you them all – ugly – uglier – ugliest – being the Mother of the Ugly Ducking & therefore not likely to blush for her offspring. They are snapped in a pretty little garden close by where one of my pupils resides – the grapes don’t grow in the garden. I have been painting a picture in this garden & had two moddels posing for me on a garden seat a faded green of exquisite tone that nothing could have improved upon. Madame’s Belle Mere evidently didn’t think so – in an evil moment wishing to improve my picture she painted it a raw haematite. Mothers-in-law should be forbidden paint brushes – they create havoc & ruin. I was so much more greived than delighted that the poor old dear toddled off & made me a large tart – a cake of the country only made on very special days of thanksgiving. It as meant as a burnt offering tI certainly was very good & went a long way to soothing my feelings. I have since had to buy a pot of green paint & re-do the seat. Old Granny stood by but wouldn’t help – she was on her dignity. My models came the next day & took half the paint away on their white dresses. Altogether it has been a chequered business & know I am beginning to fear we shall never see the sun again. It is so cold & wet & cheerless. I long for a hot bottle & a flannel nightgown having worn both of these comforts out in Paris – I wish you could send me them in your next letter. Miss Winthrop is sending me a nice bottle from the Stores. She pours out kindness upon me.
I thought it wiser to cable for the Dutch pictures fearing you had forgotten to despatch them to me. I want those for Nov: & they will only just have time to reach us.
I have only 6 pupils now – these cold winds are driving them away. I expect 2 more this week & that’s the last. Miss Emily Patterson the Scotch Water Colourist is here just now. She called on me - & after a few days came back to say she would like to have a few lessons. I didn’t feel like giving myself away to lady of her years & experience. Why should I part with my dearly-earned knowledge for a mess of potage. I felt very flattered at the compliment but after all what is the use of passing on the secrets of your own personal technique to some who might make dangerous use of them – a private lesson gives up so much of ones very own self, it doesn’t matter to amateurs but to brother brushes in the same field as yourself it is a little indiscreet to say the least.
Her work isn’t very good – I don’t know how she has made such a reputation for herself. She knows Miss Holmes.
I am glad Bert has made such a comfortable home for his bride & that you also are enjoying the comforts of it all before you leave his roof.
I am anxiously waiting to hear definite news of your plans – write very candidly & tell me if you badly want me. It will be the best kindess to us both. Don’t be gloriously unselfish & disguise your real feelings. I hope the papers will be a pleasure to you – they have cost next to nothing & I only wish I could have sent them before. Perhaps next year you will come over in a aeroplane to vist your millionaire daughter.
Love to the family & much to yourself. Your always loving daughter. Have you read Diana Mallory by Mrs Humphrey Ward?
1910
Postcard: Montreuil-sur-Mer – Les Ramparts en temps de neige May 20th [10] – Paris
All well dear, but no time this week for a letter – have had a busy time – heat terrific. Safely thro’ the Comets tail last night – kept vigil but saw nothing. How did you get on? Today the King’s Funeral – a great Pageant of Woe. Have sent papers. L.O.V.E. F.M.H.
Addressed: Mrs Hodgkins c/o Ms W.H. Field The Terrace Wellington Nouvelle Zelande
Postmarked: Paris 20/5/10
My dearest Mother
I send you a few snap shots – only 1 of them much good but I send you them all – ugly – uglier – ugliest – being the Mother of the Ugly Ducking & therefore not likely to blush for her offspring. They are snapped in a pretty little garden close by where one of my pupils resides – the grapes don’t grow in the garden. I have been painting a picture in this garden & had two moddels posing for me on a garden seat a faded green of exquisite tone that nothing could have improved upon. Madame’s Belle Mere evidently didn’t think so – in an evil moment wishing to improve my picture she painted it a raw haematite. Mothers-in-law should be forbidden paint brushes – they create havoc & ruin. I was so much more greived than delighted that the poor old dear toddled off & made me a large tart – a cake of the country only made on very special days of thanksgiving. It as meant as a burnt offering tI certainly was very good & went a long way to soothing my feelings. I have since had to buy a pot of green paint & re-do the seat. Old Granny stood by but wouldn’t help – she was on her dignity. My models came the next day & took half the paint away on their white dresses. Altogether it has been a chequered business & know I am beginning to fear we shall never see the sun again. It is so cold & wet & cheerless. I long for a hot bottle & a flannel nightgown having worn both of these comforts out in Paris – I wish you could send me them in your next letter. Miss Winthrop is sending me a nice bottle from the Stores. She pours out kindness upon me.
I thought it wiser to cable for the Dutch pictures fearing you had forgotten to despatch them to me. I want those for Nov: & they will only just have time to reach us.
I have only 6 pupils now – these cold winds are driving them away. I expect 2 more this week & that’s the last. Miss Emily Patterson the Scotch Water Colourist is here just now. She called on me - & after a few days came back to say she would like to have a few lessons. I didn’t feel like giving myself away to lady of her years & experience. Why should I part with my dearly-earned knowledge for a mess of potage. I felt very flattered at the compliment but after all what is the use of passing on the secrets of your own personal technique to some who might make dangerous use of them – a private lesson gives up so much of ones very own self, it doesn’t matter to amateurs but to brother brushes in the same field as yourself it is a little indiscreet to say the least.
Her work isn’t very good – I don’t know how she has made such a reputation for herself. She knows Miss Holmes.
I am glad Bert has made such a comfortable home for his bride & that you also are enjoying the comforts of it all before you leave his roof.
I am anxiously waiting to hear definite news of your plans – write very candidly & tell me if you badly want me. It will be the best kindess to us both. Don’t be gloriously unselfish & disguise your real feelings. I hope the papers will be a pleasure to you – they have cost next to nothing & I only wish I could have sent them before. Perhaps next year you will come over in a aeroplane to vist your millionaire daughter.
Love to the family & much to yourself. Your always loving daughter. Have you read Diana Mallory by Mrs Humphrey Ward?
1910
Postcard: Montreuil-sur-Mer – Les Ramparts en temps de neige May 20th [10] – Paris
All well dear, but no time this week for a letter – have had a busy time – heat terrific. Safely thro’ the Comets tail last night – kept vigil but saw nothing. How did you get on? Today the King’s Funeral – a great Pageant of Woe. Have sent papers. L.O.V.E. F.M.H.
Addressed: Mrs Hodgkins c/o Ms W.H. Field The Terrace Wellington Nouvelle Zelande
Postmarked: Paris 20/5/10
Pages
8 pages
Sender's address
Montreuil
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-24
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkin
to
Rachel
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-24.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22329492
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22329492