Details
Sir William Orpen, R.H.A., R.A. (1878-1931)
Richard and William have tea with Nina B.; an illustrated letter to Grace
inscribed 'In the murky city gloom/When the daylight flits away/And the workman with his broom/Sends the wet mud to the Bay/Then the joy of that small room/All aglow with peace and love/The fire casting out the gloom/And Mrs B near in a swoon/There we eat our tea and cake/Brother and I, without a break/Till there's nothing left to take/All for Nina B's dear sake' (lower edge), further inscribed 'My dearest wife What a giddy Sunday/afternoon you must have had - I am/very sorry about Miss Hickman's Aunt - and/hope she will stay on at No 13 as long/as she likes - its a pleasure to have her/there - all are well at home -/I will cross Saturday midday there is/a exception here on Friday night and/I am going to dine with Fletcher before/it and continue on my staff business/which I think may come off - its a/terrible thought poor Mary getting/sort of mixed as to what she wants/to play at her age - she should only/be thinking of amusing herself - her/troubles will come soon enough - don't/buy too many houses before I get back/other people may want one too - Richard is in the best of form - except at Billiards/his supreme luck has gone off a bit - so his/scores are more moderate - much love to/you all forgive the "Poetry" (sic) Your loving husband/Billon' (on the reverse)
pen and black ink on Metropolitan School of Art paper
12 7/8 x 8 in. (32.8 x 20.3 cm.)
Provenance
The Artist's Family.
Literature
B. Arnold, Orpen Mirror to an Age, London, 1981, p. 273.
Special notice
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