Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Eardley Knollys
Date
04 Mar 1944
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL411
Date
04 Mar 1944
Transcript
Studio Corfe Castle Dorset March 4th 1944
My Dear Eardley
I am sorry to be so long in replying to your very kind letter. I have been so busy painting after your inspiring visit, all too brief, and your flattering words which I drank down thirstily feeling very happy & honoured. It is a gorgeous thing to recapture some of the glorious movement & rhythm which moves one both in music & in art. Why? All because one feels happy; lame explanation but it serves.
It was good of you to collect the picture & store it for me till I can decide what to do about it. If any good it ought to have a career in the Galleries. I expect it is pretty grimy after M/C & London fogs & needs conscientious cleaning. 1928 is about the date I fancy – I can’t recall it – more than it being rather architectural in design – title ‘Lancashire Family’. Don’t let it be troublesome to you if it is, ask Lefevre or Leicester Galleries to take it away.
I hope your house & occupiers have escaped serious damage and are standing up well to the everlasting damnation bombs come back to us again. I hope it won’t be very long before we can put aside anxieties of this sort.
The picture you mention owned by Mrs Dugdale dates from a sumptuous short period at St Raphael. I bought hundreds of melons in the market to paint in my room – melons give intense satisfaction.
I shall look for you some day very soon – when it gets warmer. The cold here is stupefying in the Studio by its size & height specially. I wonder how you found Cheshire? Isn’t it heavily Romanised.
Thank you again Love Frances
The family of Mr Wells sounds attractive – congenial. They wrote to me, charming letter, which I failed to answer but I shall do so now. If ever the war ends & we get normal again I shall hope to visit them but not to paint the children.
My Dear Eardley
I am sorry to be so long in replying to your very kind letter. I have been so busy painting after your inspiring visit, all too brief, and your flattering words which I drank down thirstily feeling very happy & honoured. It is a gorgeous thing to recapture some of the glorious movement & rhythm which moves one both in music & in art. Why? All because one feels happy; lame explanation but it serves.
It was good of you to collect the picture & store it for me till I can decide what to do about it. If any good it ought to have a career in the Galleries. I expect it is pretty grimy after M/C & London fogs & needs conscientious cleaning. 1928 is about the date I fancy – I can’t recall it – more than it being rather architectural in design – title ‘Lancashire Family’. Don’t let it be troublesome to you if it is, ask Lefevre or Leicester Galleries to take it away.
I hope your house & occupiers have escaped serious damage and are standing up well to the everlasting damnation bombs come back to us again. I hope it won’t be very long before we can put aside anxieties of this sort.
The picture you mention owned by Mrs Dugdale dates from a sumptuous short period at St Raphael. I bought hundreds of melons in the market to paint in my room – melons give intense satisfaction.
I shall look for you some day very soon – when it gets warmer. The cold here is stupefying in the Studio by its size & height specially. I wonder how you found Cheshire? Isn’t it heavily Romanised.
Thank you again Love Frances
The family of Mr Wells sounds attractive – congenial. They wrote to me, charming letter, which I failed to answer but I shall do so now. If ever the war ends & we get normal again I shall hope to visit them but not to paint the children.
Sender's address
Studio, Corfe Castle, Dorset
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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