Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Eardley Knollys
Date
06 Jun 1944
See transcription
Catalogue number
FHL417
Date
06 Jun 1944
Transcript
Studio Corfe Castle Dorset 6-6 44
My Dear Eardley
I owe you a letter in reply to yours of May 23rd a long while ago. I thought it better to wait till May (your unlucky month) was well out & June well in before answering questions such as the one at the end of your letter concerning the price of my dusty old picture painted quite 15 yrs ago in the purlieus of Ancoats (Manchester) a squalid & slummy spot but the real thing for picture making.
I have the dimmest idea of what the picture is like. I remember about that period I had artistic yearnings to paint Lancashire Mill Girls: some of them were raging beauties.
I loved painting piled up family groups. This must have been one of them. It was shown at the London Group & skied. Later it was lent to the 2 scalliwag young men at 3d a week, who finally vanished to S Africa. I missed their pleasant company but I missed my picture more. This leads up to your unearthing it for me at Paddington of all places & restoring it to me.
I am telling you all this in order that you may think twice about buying it.
Do you really like it so much?
Is is quite your cup of tea ?
I should very much like you to have it. I had thought of offering it to Mr Lane to complete my part of his bargain or failing this, show it in the Spring of 1945 at my Show in the Leicester Galleries. I wish I could come up to London & have a look at it.
The “number of pounds” would be £50. I don’t know what Messieurs the Lefevre Galleries will think about it if they ever find out.
I now posses the 4 advance Penguins. I must say I think they are very good indeed the quite delightful writing sets one thinking, dreaming, educating.
And now for the next new ones. Graham Sutherland rings the bell. How well he understands the secret of ornament & object. Chirico’s secret.
As for myself precious little work. This hot sunshine makes one lazy. Are you eating strawberries to the noise of Battle. I am. To my shame – but no cream.
Looking forward and with all my thanks for looking after my picture. Love Frances
My Dear Eardley
I owe you a letter in reply to yours of May 23rd a long while ago. I thought it better to wait till May (your unlucky month) was well out & June well in before answering questions such as the one at the end of your letter concerning the price of my dusty old picture painted quite 15 yrs ago in the purlieus of Ancoats (Manchester) a squalid & slummy spot but the real thing for picture making.
I have the dimmest idea of what the picture is like. I remember about that period I had artistic yearnings to paint Lancashire Mill Girls: some of them were raging beauties.
I loved painting piled up family groups. This must have been one of them. It was shown at the London Group & skied. Later it was lent to the 2 scalliwag young men at 3d a week, who finally vanished to S Africa. I missed their pleasant company but I missed my picture more. This leads up to your unearthing it for me at Paddington of all places & restoring it to me.
I am telling you all this in order that you may think twice about buying it.
Do you really like it so much?
Is is quite your cup of tea ?
I should very much like you to have it. I had thought of offering it to Mr Lane to complete my part of his bargain or failing this, show it in the Spring of 1945 at my Show in the Leicester Galleries. I wish I could come up to London & have a look at it.
The “number of pounds” would be £50. I don’t know what Messieurs the Lefevre Galleries will think about it if they ever find out.
I now posses the 4 advance Penguins. I must say I think they are very good indeed the quite delightful writing sets one thinking, dreaming, educating.
And now for the next new ones. Graham Sutherland rings the bell. How well he understands the secret of ornament & object. Chirico’s secret.
As for myself precious little work. This hot sunshine makes one lazy. Are you eating strawberries to the noise of Battle. I am. To my shame – but no cream.
Looking forward and with all my thanks for looking after my picture. Love Frances
Sender's address
Studio, Corfe Castle, Dorset
Credit Line
E
H
McCormick
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