Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Ree Gorer
Date
14 Aug 1935
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL222
Date
14 Aug 1935
Transcript
Hotel George Barrow – Ponterwyd [?] Aug 14th Nr Aberystwyth
Dearest Ree
I left your Salzburg address behind me in London; in any case I think you must be home ward bound by now, if not actually home again so I am writing to Highgate.
Thank you so much for writing from Bellery. It reached me as I was packing up & leaving my Studio rather earlier than I intended in order to oblige an impatient incoming tenant.
Since coming here it has rained pretty well every day & all day – with brilliant intervals when we can gaze around on the lovely hills Phulmum [Pumlumon] the highest & nearest within everyone’s walking distance but mine own! I have sat about in damp fields, under dripping bridges & arches, hay stacks even pig sties, sheltering from the weather – and the trippers who come in their hundreds – dreadfully spoiling the place. They actually drove me away from the Hotel so noisy & rowdy was it – and now I have a room in the village, which is quieter & less populous – but dreary.
Cedric came last night with a party of friends the Byng [?] Lucas’s from their castle nr Cardiff where I gather the ground is strewn with castles, empty, two a penny.
Cedric looks thin & sad. He has been painting in one of the distressed areas, a mining valley, where he says things are tragically bad – the miners all but starving & worse hopeless.
I must stay on till I finish my work – but I hope to be back in Town by the end of the month. I’ll let you know. You shall have your pictures as soon as I get back – or very soon afterwards. I did not trust myself to any last touches. I felt too shaky & nervey now happily alright again & my normal self. What miracles a change of scene works – this air is marvellous & reviving.
Of course you owe me nothing for the Picture. I am only too delighted that at last you have found something that you like in return for the cheque you gave me for Spain don’t you remember?
There is a white mist over the valley. I shall take the bus down to Aberyswtwyth & see Art Exhn of Welsh Contemporary work, got together by Cedric & Augustus John. There is a fine collection of Innes’s work, from private collectors.
So goodbye till I see you again. I shall probably be on the move by the time you get this so don’t bother to reply.
Much love
Frances
I hope you have had a wonderful trip. I have read about the concerts.
Dearest Ree
I left your Salzburg address behind me in London; in any case I think you must be home ward bound by now, if not actually home again so I am writing to Highgate.
Thank you so much for writing from Bellery. It reached me as I was packing up & leaving my Studio rather earlier than I intended in order to oblige an impatient incoming tenant.
Since coming here it has rained pretty well every day & all day – with brilliant intervals when we can gaze around on the lovely hills Phulmum [Pumlumon] the highest & nearest within everyone’s walking distance but mine own! I have sat about in damp fields, under dripping bridges & arches, hay stacks even pig sties, sheltering from the weather – and the trippers who come in their hundreds – dreadfully spoiling the place. They actually drove me away from the Hotel so noisy & rowdy was it – and now I have a room in the village, which is quieter & less populous – but dreary.
Cedric came last night with a party of friends the Byng [?] Lucas’s from their castle nr Cardiff where I gather the ground is strewn with castles, empty, two a penny.
Cedric looks thin & sad. He has been painting in one of the distressed areas, a mining valley, where he says things are tragically bad – the miners all but starving & worse hopeless.
I must stay on till I finish my work – but I hope to be back in Town by the end of the month. I’ll let you know. You shall have your pictures as soon as I get back – or very soon afterwards. I did not trust myself to any last touches. I felt too shaky & nervey now happily alright again & my normal self. What miracles a change of scene works – this air is marvellous & reviving.
Of course you owe me nothing for the Picture. I am only too delighted that at last you have found something that you like in return for the cheque you gave me for Spain don’t you remember?
There is a white mist over the valley. I shall take the bus down to Aberyswtwyth & see Art Exhn of Welsh Contemporary work, got together by Cedric & Augustus John. There is a fine collection of Innes’s work, from private collectors.
So goodbye till I see you again. I shall probably be on the move by the time you get this so don’t bother to reply.
Much love
Frances
I hope you have had a wonderful trip. I have read about the concerts.
Sender's address
Hotel George Barrow - Ponterwyd, Nr Aberystwyth
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
Archive
of
Frances
Hodgkins'
Letters,
E
H
McCormick
Research
Library,
Auckland
Art
Gallery
Toi
o
Tāmaki