Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Geoff Field
Date
29 Sep 1917
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Object Detail
Date
29 Sep 1917
Transcript
7 Porthmeor Studio St Ives Cornwell Sept 29th
My Dear Geoff
I have been a long time writing but do forgive me. I have been pretty busy winding up classes & pictures before I turn out of this Studio in a day or so – to a warmer & dryer one on the Harbour – where you will find me when you get back here. When is your next leave dear? It seems a long time since you went to Flanders. I got your 2 cards of the 9 – 15th Sept & was very thankful to hear you are well – all the rest I have to fill in as best I can.
I hope life is not too unbearable & beastly & that you are really keeping fit. Thank Heaven the weather is fine. I walked nearly as far as Gurnard’s Hd a night or two ago across the moors & felt I could quite easily stop out all the night tucked up on the heather under the lee of a boulder. It was perfect – spoilt only by the thought of air raids which have been pretty active & persistant during these moon shine nights. I send off a packet of pasties & a cake the other day & hope it will catch you. I see two New Zealanders here just now – I shall have to speak to them if I meet them again.
No news here – very quiet & dull. The only amusing thing that has come my way is a commission for a 20 guinea picture straight from the trenches wh touched me considerably. Some man who had been to London & seen some of my things at the International & hearing from a brother officer on his return to France that he (the brother officer) was coming over to St Ives to see his family, asked him to look me up & ask me to paint him a nice picture wh I shall, you bet, with all the pleasure in life. Sweet praise I call it don’t you? It bucks one up no end & atones for all the bad times.
Well dear Geoff no more now. I will write again very soon as soon as I am snug in my new dug out wh is really very high up in a loft up a narrow stairs wh was originally the chimney I think – very stout or 3 cornered people wld stick in it. Windows all round & sun pouring in & seagulls sliding down the tiles. Much love & good luck & blessings. Your loving Aunt Fanny
My Dear Geoff
I have been a long time writing but do forgive me. I have been pretty busy winding up classes & pictures before I turn out of this Studio in a day or so – to a warmer & dryer one on the Harbour – where you will find me when you get back here. When is your next leave dear? It seems a long time since you went to Flanders. I got your 2 cards of the 9 – 15th Sept & was very thankful to hear you are well – all the rest I have to fill in as best I can.
I hope life is not too unbearable & beastly & that you are really keeping fit. Thank Heaven the weather is fine. I walked nearly as far as Gurnard’s Hd a night or two ago across the moors & felt I could quite easily stop out all the night tucked up on the heather under the lee of a boulder. It was perfect – spoilt only by the thought of air raids which have been pretty active & persistant during these moon shine nights. I send off a packet of pasties & a cake the other day & hope it will catch you. I see two New Zealanders here just now – I shall have to speak to them if I meet them again.
No news here – very quiet & dull. The only amusing thing that has come my way is a commission for a 20 guinea picture straight from the trenches wh touched me considerably. Some man who had been to London & seen some of my things at the International & hearing from a brother officer on his return to France that he (the brother officer) was coming over to St Ives to see his family, asked him to look me up & ask me to paint him a nice picture wh I shall, you bet, with all the pleasure in life. Sweet praise I call it don’t you? It bucks one up no end & atones for all the bad times.
Well dear Geoff no more now. I will write again very soon as soon as I am snug in my new dug out wh is really very high up in a loft up a narrow stairs wh was originally the chimney I think – very stout or 3 cornered people wld stick in it. Windows all round & sun pouring in & seagulls sliding down the tiles. Much love & good luck & blessings. Your loving Aunt Fanny
Pages
4 pages
Sender's address
7 Porthmeor Studio, St Ives. Cornwall
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-33
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-33.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22720420
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22720420