| Description | Letter dated 14 December 1874 - 5 May 1875 to Macdonald from Thomas Gray, Hogarth Club, 84 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London, grateful that Macdonald is still writing to him despite his failure to correspond, which he blames on 'diabolical instigation', he has no personal news and any other news is stale by the time he manages to write about it, trusts that Macdonald is well and manages to make the most of life, he himself is suffering from problems with his nervous system and a chronic cough, attempts to live in the country (Sevenoaks), but has to travel to London once or twice a week, hoping for an appointment in Bedford which will improve his income again, 'I do believe I might have done some good as a painter if I had had a small income to save cares that only unfit such as I for art work', reflections on the industry of Cotman who has never had to work, and others who show that 'comfort and talent are perfectly compatible', obtaining the appointment in Bedford, recovering from illness, no painting for two years, no news of the Royal Academy except that the pictures are not selling, comments on Leighton's picture with small sketch of its composition, and remarks on Poynter: 'Neither of them paint the flesh I've ever seen - perhaps they can't', Watts is poor but Millais is good, Orchardson 'more flimsy and ill drawn than ever', Pettie good, 'Cassie and indeed nearly all outside Scotchmen kept out - they say through Leighton who is reported to have said before the hanging that they had had their innings', remarks on Fildes, Brett ('a fearful failure'), Hook, 'A young chap Leslie Thompson - son of Geo. Thompson late Dean of Guild and presently Esq. of Sweden' has some nice landscapes, hopes of seeing Macdonald in June, hopes of visiting Aberdeen in August, thanks to Macdonald for sending the Aberdeen Journal. |