Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Isabel Field
Date
15 Dec 1927
See full details
See transcription
Object Detail
Date
15 Dec 1927
Transcript
Calendonian Hotel Bloomsbury Dec: 15th
My Dearest Sis
It is Christmas – or thereabouts – and I have not written you a line of greetings. Since my return from abroad I have been extremely busy with arrangments for a London Show. Nothing so far is definitely fixed but I have hopes of a Gallery in the early Spring – January or Feb: It is mostly a question of planking down a guarantee of £50 or so - & that is not so easy. There are very few Good Galleries & far too many artists wanting them. The gilded (but not always gifted amateur generally scores).
You will see I am represented this year in the New English Art Club – 2 works – which is, as you know, considered important. Many aspire but few are chosen. I am making a big effort to recover my lost footing in London. It is now a matter of “brute cash” & holding on till I am recognised. Every penny goes to the cause – frames – dealer – etc. Once really known sales follow. So back me in NZ for all you are worth & push sales and send me a cheque as soon as you can. You & Will have been bricks in looking after the pictures in Wellington. Willie’s told me you were doing your best for me. I am afraid he did not send the most saleable of the lot I sent out. He has been the kindest dear to me. He told me of your stroke of good luck. It shows your powers are not on the wane. Why don’t you take it up seriously Sis and “Come back”. It can be done – with your fine colour and sympathetic imagination you might be as strong as ever again. I find it a hard & exacting life – but worth it. So far I have not been eliminated in the struggle for life – but London & London fogs & cold would soon kill me off if I stayed on a winter. No more now dear Sis. Best wishes for 1928. Let me say it in hankies. Love to all Fanny
I may go to the Nickalls for Xmas. Jill & her Ashby were here last week – I lunched with them. Handkies are my old Firm’s best washing cambric.
My Dearest Sis
It is Christmas – or thereabouts – and I have not written you a line of greetings. Since my return from abroad I have been extremely busy with arrangments for a London Show. Nothing so far is definitely fixed but I have hopes of a Gallery in the early Spring – January or Feb: It is mostly a question of planking down a guarantee of £50 or so - & that is not so easy. There are very few Good Galleries & far too many artists wanting them. The gilded (but not always gifted amateur generally scores).
You will see I am represented this year in the New English Art Club – 2 works – which is, as you know, considered important. Many aspire but few are chosen. I am making a big effort to recover my lost footing in London. It is now a matter of “brute cash” & holding on till I am recognised. Every penny goes to the cause – frames – dealer – etc. Once really known sales follow. So back me in NZ for all you are worth & push sales and send me a cheque as soon as you can. You & Will have been bricks in looking after the pictures in Wellington. Willie’s told me you were doing your best for me. I am afraid he did not send the most saleable of the lot I sent out. He has been the kindest dear to me. He told me of your stroke of good luck. It shows your powers are not on the wane. Why don’t you take it up seriously Sis and “Come back”. It can be done – with your fine colour and sympathetic imagination you might be as strong as ever again. I find it a hard & exacting life – but worth it. So far I have not been eliminated in the struggle for life – but London & London fogs & cold would soon kill me off if I stayed on a winter. No more now dear Sis. Best wishes for 1928. Let me say it in hankies. Love to all Fanny
I may go to the Nickalls for Xmas. Jill & her Ashby were here last week – I lunched with them. Handkies are my old Firm’s best washing cambric.
Pages
4 pages
Sender's address
Caledonian Hotel, Bloomsbury
Recipient's address
Mrs W. H. Field, The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-43
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-43.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22849866
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22849866