Lot Essay
This lot is sold with a letter from the artist to the Archdeacon of Warwick, on headed paper and dated 9 July 1911, and inscribed:
'The Ven Archdeacon of Warwick/My dear Sir/I have been approached to/exhibit the complete set of my/illustrations to Wagner's "Ring"/at the Paris Salon of 1912 if/arrangements can be made to/borrow the drawings./I am most reluctant to trouble/the owners of my drawings by asking/them to lend them, as I know/how inconvenient it must often be/but this is, I need hardly say,/a very unusual occasion./The compliment of inviting to the/salon 60-70 drawings by a living/artist must very rarely been/paid before, if ever. And it/is such an unusual honour that I naturally am very anxious that/.....to be made./The drawings would not be/wanted until early next spring/but I am asked to ascertain/now from the owners if they/will lend their drawings so that/arrangements can be made for/the necessary reservation of space./I shall be greatly indebted/to you if you will be so kind as to/promise to lend your drawing -/"Brünhilde with her horse at the/cave" when the time comes./I hope you will be able to do so./Every care would be taken of it, & insurance & all other expenses/would of course be paid./Best wishes/Yours faithfully/Arthur Rackham'.
'The Ven Archdeacon of Warwick/My dear Sir/I have been approached to/exhibit the complete set of my/illustrations to Wagner's "Ring"/at the Paris Salon of 1912 if/arrangements can be made to/borrow the drawings./I am most reluctant to trouble/the owners of my drawings by asking/them to lend them, as I know/how inconvenient it must often be/but this is, I need hardly say,/a very unusual occasion./The compliment of inviting to the/salon 60-70 drawings by a living/artist must very rarely been/paid before, if ever. And it/is such an unusual honour that I naturally am very anxious that/.....to be made./The drawings would not be/wanted until early next spring/but I am asked to ascertain/now from the owners if they/will lend their drawings so that/arrangements can be made for/the necessary reservation of space./I shall be greatly indebted/to you if you will be so kind as to/promise to lend your drawing -/"Brünhilde with her horse at the/cave" when the time comes./I hope you will be able to do so./Every care would be taken of it, & insurance & all other expenses/would of course be paid./Best wishes/Yours faithfully/Arthur Rackham'.