Description:

Lincoln Abraham

George F. Watts, Symbolist Artist, Two ALS Mentioning Lincoln's Inn Fresco and "best drawing I ever made"

 

Two ALS inscribed overall and signed by celebrated Victorian artist George Frederic Watts (1817-1904), both signed as "Signor." In very good to near fine condition, with expected light folds and edge wear. From the Collection of Norman Boas of Seaport Autographs and purchased at Christie's December 5, 2017 sale.

 

The first 1p letter is undated, but textual references suggest it was written during the spring of 1854. The correspondence is incomplete and includes only the last page. Cream bifold paper with embossed stationer's mark at upper left. The inner two pages are blank, and the letter is addressed to "Mr. Cameron" on the integral address leaf. The recipient was likely Charles Hay Cameron (1795-1880), the husband of family friend Julia Margaret Cameron nee Pattle (1815-1879).

 

Watts wrote: "--your account is good, I hope she will not go out too soon, this wind is very cold. I almost think she might have sent me a word -- you have no more sickness in your house?

 

To day I have put the first few (?) lines upon the walls at Lincoln' Inn [sic], hitherto my largest one; who knows whether I may ever put the last!

 

I hope if you are going out you may look in.

 

Yours sincerely

the signor."

 

Watts was called "signor" by many friends, including his Little Holland House intimates, the Prinseps and the numerous Pattle sisters. Watts had secured a multiyear lease of the dower house at Holland Park for his friends the Prinseps (Thoby and Sarah nee Pattle), and later joined them there. It was through the Prinseps that Watts met the youngest Pattle sister, Sophia Dalrymple (1829-1911). According to George Frederic Watts: The Annals of an Artist's Life (New York: George H. Doran Company, 1912), Sophia was the first person to call Watts by this Italian nickname: "It was she who first called him Signor, the little word, half name, half title, that suited him so well…" Sophia in turn referred to herself in letters to Watts as "sorella." Watts drew and painted many of the Pattle family, and even fell in love with sister Virginia Pattle, later Countess Somers.

 

Watts mentions his first attempts painting what would become "Justice, a Hemicycle of Lawgivers," a monumental fresco at Lincoln's Inn near London. Watts began work in April 1854 but various illness and other delays meant the fresco was not completed until October 1859. The 45' x 40' fresco, modeled after Raphael's School of Athens, depicted famous historical lawgivers. Watts did not receive any compensation for the project, accepting only material expenses.

 

The second 2pp letter was written approximately 50 years later from Watts's estate at Limnerslease, Guildford, in Surrey on June 10, 1901. On blue speckled bifold stationery with mourning border and custom estate letterhead at top.

 

Watts writes in part: "I am sorry if necessity obliges you to part with the drawing + would gladly purchase it for a good price for it worth one being perhaps the very best drawing I ever made, but I am not making an income + with great expenses + constant calls upon my pocket I am not able to do so, I advise you to take the drawing to Agnew + ask the manager Mr. Basil (?) Thomson to advise you, or perhaps the Fine Arts might be better?"

 

Apparently a lifetime had not improved Watts's financial straits, and the artist was again living from hand to mouth. He urged this unknown correspondent to sell his drawing at Agnew; this prestigious art dealership first established in Manchester in 1817 had opened its London location in 1860.

 

George Frederic Watts was a classically trained painter and sculptor whose work exemplified the emerging Symbolist movement. He is best known for his allegorical paintings of Hope, Love and Life. Watts's studio in Surrey can still be visited today.

 

Provenance: Ex-Christie's December 5, 2017 sale; Ex-Norman Boas, Seaport Autographs

 

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