| Description | Letter to Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone from John Pettie, 21 St. John's Wood Road, N.W. London, busy days with the private view and various dinners, wishes he could write about it better for Macdonald's sake, as he would find it very interesting, [John Forbes] White has visited and promised to show him George Reid's portrait at Cottier's, Pettie does not doubt that it should have been in the exhibition, Archie Reid's painting was much admired, and was possibly bought by a Mr. Firth of Sheffield, who initially bought the wrong one, T. Graham sold his painting for a good price, admiration of Hook's work and Millais' portraits, but his 'two landscapes about which there is justly a difference of opinion', left banquet early, helping to entertain Mr. Cunliffe Brooks, M.P., whose daughter was painted by Millais, 'he has a lot of splendid pictures and too much money!!', Firth turns out to have half a million pounds, the Reids ought to send their work to Wallis' winter exhibition, regards to them, dinner with MacTaggart, Orchardson and C.E. Johnson in Greenwich, which was a jolly affair though Pettie was sober, White will supply other news, 7 May 1872 |