Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Arthur Howell

Date
04 Apr 1930
See transcription

Catalogue number
FHL124
Date
04 Apr 1930
Transcript
St Jeannet Alpes Maritimes France 4th April
Dear Mr Howell
Yesterday I posted you 4 Water Colours – there remain another 5 all but finished which are temporarily in the soup waiting for fine weather.
It is quite awful at present – floods – gales and far from warm.
I expect to be here for another 2-3 weeks and by then I think I shall have had enough of the South for the present. I feel like doing some quiet work in my own Studio.
I hope to take my oil paintings down to Nice early next week to be packed. It can’t be done from here. Also if the 5 Water Colours are ready – there’s many a slip between the cup & the lip & I dare not prophecy. I’ll do my best to send them along quickly.
I really haven’t had a dog’s chance with March weather.
Funds are getting low & I should be very grateful for a little money if it is convenient to you to send it me – I do hope it is.
I am so very sorry not to have sent you more figure work but luck has been against it. The weather has been so cold & rough the peasants are just shapeless bundles of clothes – not at all attractive – but the summer will give me my chance & my subjects get more variety, of that I am sure.
I very greatly question, in the light of my winter’s experience whether it isn’t wiser to stop in one’s own Studio & rely on steadier work and later in the spring – about now – come South. I have had a lot of fun & gaiety starting work & much heavy work finishing it – the climate lets you down badly.
I hope you will spend an enjoyable Easter & get your well-earned rest. Believe me with kind regards yours sincerely Frances Hodgkins
Thank you for send on letter which was to invite me to be a Member of the new group reforming at the Grafton Galleries – at a 5 gn subscription.
Sender's address
St Jeannet Alpes Maritimes, France
Recipient
Credit Line
E H McCormick Archive of Frances Hodgkins' Letters, E H McCormick Research Library, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki

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