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Transcript: Portrait sketches Letter

Portrait sketches

G.W.R Railway Line
Tuesday Feb 2nd 1904

My Dear Mother,

I am writing this in the Rail carriage on my way to Swansea (as you can see by the writing damn this tunnel).  I hope you are all quite well, had Dad’s cheque and note this morning, glad to hear Marj. Is better.  It doesn’t look as if you’re going to go ‘Whooping the Whoop’ this time.  Yesterday morning Mr Girdlestone took me to see Alfred East and Arnesby Brown and Arthur Meade.   East was very encouraging - said he hoped to see me an R.A. one day.  Saw some lovely huge landscapes of his that he is getting ready for the Academy.  Girdleston told me that he (East) has been to Japan + profited by the Japanese style that’s what makes his landscapes so decorative and well thought out.  Arnesby Brown had two awfully nice pastoral subjects which he is getting ready for the R.A. One of them, a drove of cows coming over a bridge (such as you see over the Lugg and similar flat country all round) in late afternoon light more or less behind them they looked very fine + hot + dusty.  The other was a hay wagon + men + a boy haymaking in evening light full on them but with chequered lights from trees.  But I liked the cows best.  Brown thought like Watts that I ought to go on with education now + not take up art to study it in earnest just yet. 

(See sketch of Alfred East) This is East more or less he is oldish looking his hair half grey looks something like Dyer the hairdresser about the head.

See sketch of Arnesby Brown) This is Brown it isn’t much like him but it’s his type fair + fluffy.

(See sketch of Arthur Meade).  This is something like Meade a very dapper little fellow.  Meade didn’t say very much but wanted me to come down and settle at St Ives as a good many artists would be only too glad to have me to put animals in their landscapes.   

(See sketch of Talmage).  This is not very like Talmage.  He is young + sporting looking, Gingery.

Feb. 3rd
I have arrived safe and sound.  My return ticket took me as far as Newport and then 6/- to Swansea.  It is very dull here, looks like rain.  The Carl Rosa Opera Co. are coming here next week.  Faust and Tanhauser + all that lot – Mrs Lan is going to take me to some of them so please send my dinner suit and fronts at once.  Elton is coming today or tomorrow… measles at his school so he can’t go back and isn’t doing well at Hereford.  Dr Lan is going to try me with some rides soon.  Let me know what you are going to do about me.  Are you going to wait until the outbreak is over at Hereford or simply until you are sure our kids haven’t got it? Because if I’m going to be down here any length of time I shall want my oils to muck away at.  In any case you might send down Dr. Lan’s chalk drawing + I will finish it.  I have the right chalks here.  I have done another carbon pencil drawing of him block size while down at Carbis Bay, which Mrs. Lan likes much better + also send the one I started of the horses going round in the barn, you know the doubtful one.  All the artists who saw the little sketch in my pocket book thought it an excellent subject especially with a white horse.  So that’s all kiff [?]  Stanhope Forbes was particularly struck with it.  Mrs. Lan is delighted with her candlesticks keeps admiring them all day long.  Dr. and I have been working Planchette I will send you some of the sheets written on some time.  Dr. keeps fussing about the ‘little box’ (I haven’t told him) which he has heard about I suppose you haven’t sent it yet.  He’s just like a baby with a present.  Can’t keep still until he’s seen it.  Am very much all serene.  Don’t want to stay longer than I can help.  Looks beastly dismal after blue sea and pretty Cornish scenery.  Must close now as Marj. would say excuse writing please.  Hope you can read it that’s all.  Love + stuff Hope you are all kiff.
Your loving son,
Brian. 

You might send my Latin + Greek grammar but I suppose I havn’t any I used to use Hatherly’s.

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