Details
MILLAIS, John Everett (1829-1896). Four autograph letters signed to unidentified correspondents [the first three apparently to a Mr Smyth], Bowerswell Perth and Birnam Hall, 3 August 1857 - 1 September 1887, together 7½ pages, 8vo (remnants of guards, two letters discoloured).
The earliest letter audaciously addresses a stranger, expressing Millais's desire to paint one of the recipient's sons, whom he assumes to be the elder, 'for he has a rounder, & larger face with rather longer hair: he generally sits beside you at St Johns and has a little nervous way of twitching his face ... From the first moment I saw him, he struck me as being one of the most beautiful little fellows I have every seen and I am very anxious to get a perfect resemblance of him in one of my pictures', and proposing sittings; in the second letter Millais declares himself 'very happy' to show 'you & Mrs Smyth the face I have painted of your little boy'; in the third suggesting arrangements for the 'next and last sitting' for 'Master David'; the letter of 1887 attempts to verify the credentials of a new footman who claims his character-reference has been incorrectly dated.
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The earliest letter audaciously addresses a stranger, expressing Millais's desire to paint one of the recipient's sons, whom he assumes to be the elder, 'for he has a rounder, & larger face with rather longer hair: he generally sits beside you at St Johns and has a little nervous way of twitching his face ... From the first moment I saw him, he struck me as being one of the most beautiful little fellows I have every seen and I am very anxious to get a perfect resemblance of him in one of my pictures', and proposing sittings; in the second letter Millais declares himself 'very happy' to show 'you & Mrs Smyth the face I have painted of your little boy'; in the third suggesting arrangements for the 'next and last sitting' for 'Master David'; the letter of 1887 attempts to verify the credentials of a new footman who claims his character-reference has been incorrectly dated.
(4)
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