| Description | Letter to Alexander Macdonald of Kepplestone from John Pettie, 21, St. John's Wood Road, N.W. London, sorry he has not written, sorry he has not visited, trip to Isle of Wight but bad cold on his return, death of Sir Francis Grant, 'The R.A. had arranged to bury him in St. Paul's where three P.R.A.s [Presidents of the Royal Academy] lie but his wife would not give up the idea of resting with him in death', election for a new President on 13 November, wants to elect Millais, but expects that Leighton will win, visit of Tom Taylor at Kepplestone, does not know him but 'Don't think much of his feeling for art', weather on the turn, visit to Riviere and view of some good work, he is to offer Macdonald a picture which Pettie quite likes, portraying a dog barking at some clothes, McWhirter is not back yet, Pettie is to visit Orchardson at Westgate-on-Sea, 16 October 1878 |