The
The Joseph Downs Collection
of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera
Henry Francis du Pont
5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur,
Delaware 19735
Telephone: 302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF
THE COLLECTION
Title: English Artists’ Autographs
Dates: 1802-1896
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 76x78.1-.59, 65x49c-d,
68x192; 12x1-0
Quantity: 1 box
Location: 9 C 3
SCOPE AND
CONTENT
This collection contains autographs of British
artists and writers of the 19th century, generally lesser known
artists rather than the more well known ones.
Most items are letters, but there are envelopes, scraps, cartes de
visite, sketches, and engravings as well. Many of the items were apparently mounted in a
scrapbook at one time.
ORGANIZATION
Arranged
alphabetically by artist’s last name.
LANGUAGE OF
MATERIALS
The materials are in English.
RESTRICTIONS
ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from various sources.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
Crane, Walter, 1845-1915.
Landseer,
Edwin Henry, Sir, 1803-1873
Topics:
Artists –
Artists – Autographs – Specimens.
Authors – Autographs – Specimens.
Letters.
Cartes de visite.
Visiting cards.
Autographs.
DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 9 C
3
76x78.23 carte de visite of unknown man, taken
by John & Charles Watson, London.
The man holds a board on
his lap, and appears to be sketching. A
gun is at his side. He is seated against
a painted backdrop.
76x78.1 Letter,
Richard Ansdell, Kensington, to C. Robertson, July 5, 1865.
Thanks
for note. About having someone make a
horse.
76x78.2 Letter,
John Bell, Kensington, to J. Jobson (?) Smith Eyre, January 10, 1868.
New Year’s greetings;
encloses description of the “large group now in progress,” which the Queen is
to come see.
76x78.3 Note,
W. H. Bartlett,
Invitation
to his studio for Friday, March 27. [in
two pieces]
76x78.4 Letter, Joseph Bonomi, Sir John
Soane’s Museum,[London], to “My Dear Sir,” C. [illegible], April 25, 1868.
Mentions an invitation
to the Engineers. Invites Mr. C and his
son to the museum.
76x78.5 Letter,
William Boxall to Mr. Norton, June 13, n.y.;
also
a brief biographical sketch of Boxall.
Would
be pleased to paint Mr. Cockerell’s portrait.
(See 76x78.39a
for print of Boxall’s portrait of Elizabeth Eastlake.)
76x78.6 Letter,
Thomas Brock, Regents Park, to Mr. Vokins, February 24, 1891.
Accepts
invitation for March 3d.
76x78.7-.8 Note,
John Burgess, St. John’s Wood, to Mr. Bell, n.d.;
Letter,
John Burgess to “My dear Sir,” n.d.
.7:
thank you note;
.8: describes his
paintings for the R.A., “The Young Guitar Player” and “The Moorish Captives.”
76x78.9 Letter,
Elizabeth Butler, Aldershot, to “Dear Madam,” March 31, 1895 (?)
Miss
butler regrets that she has no opportunity to give an interview.
76x78.10 Letter,
Philip H. Calderon, St. John’s Wood, to Agnew, July 22, 1864.
Encloses receipt for the
check Agnew sent; looks forward to “licking you at billiards.” Has not yet received the photos.
76x78.11a-b Letter,
with envelope, D. Y. Cameron, Stirlingshire, to Mr. Elkins Matthews, n.d.
Letter
of introduction of Miss Hester Frood, who wishes to be an illustrator.
65x49c-d Signature
from letter, William Carleton to Sir William B[cut off] n.d.
also
a photo of Carleton, holding a book.
[Carleton
was an Irish poet and novelist, who lived 1794-1869]
Only the signature and a
postscript remain of the letter, and the postscript recounts that it was
prophesied to Carleton that he would never keep a carriage.
76x78.12-.20 items
relating to Francis Chantrey and M.A. Chantrey:
.12 F. Chantrey, Shrewsbury, to Mother,
September 21, 1802.
Recovering from a cold; hopes the
harvest is a good one and hopes to come visit the family.
On back: bill to Mr. Ealy for a
crayon painting of Mrs. Ealy, April 25, 1802, with request for payment or
return of picture if not a good likeness.
.13 F. Chantrey to H. Fisher, 1821 [date
penciled in].
About
finding an artist to do a drawing of Chantrey’s bust of Mr. Rennie[?], so that
it can be engraved.
.14 From M.A. Chantrey,
M.A. writes of a possible visit and
that her cold is better. F. writes that
he thinks “it is too soon to begin your house just yet.” Mrs. Wale recounts local news.
.15a E. Wale to Sister, June 24, and F. Chantrey
to Mother.
Mrs. Wale: Mary still weak and may
go to Tunbridge Wells. Other news. Hand is feeble and can hardly write.
F.: Mary and her mother enjoy
Tunbridge Wells. Has ordered tea,
brandy, and other foodstuffs for her.
Encourages her to enjoy comforts.
.15b F. Chantrey, Belgrave Place, to Mother,
December 22, 1824 (inside .15a).
Lets her know when the food and
liquor shipment is to arrive and begs her to drink 2 glasses of Lisbon every
day. Directions on how to store the
wine.
.16 Printed drawing of Mr. Chantrey
.17 Envelope addressed to Abm. Cooper, with
signature of F. Chantrey,
.18 Signature of F. Chantrey, removed from a
letter
.19 Front of envelope addressed to Sir Henry
Ellis, with signature of F. Chantrey
.20 Printed poem: “Lines on the Death of Sir
Francis L. Chantrey, R.A.” No author
given; Dec. 1841.
68x192 note signed by Francis Chantrey
about his entries in the Royal Academy’s exhibition of 1826, namely a statue of
George Washington and a model for a statue of the Right Hon. Henry Grattan.
(trex 3148)
76x78.21-.22 Two letters, William Cole to Mr. Joseph Mayer,
Liverpool, May 24, 1822, and March 11, 1822.
.21: about some
invitation.
.22: mentions a portrait
of Mr. Harrison; also information about someone’s funeral, but unclear whether
Mr. Harrison’s or Charles Carter’s. Also
mentions a check.
76x78.24-.25 Items
relating to William Collins
.24 Letter, William Collins to wife Harriet, no
date.
Wishes she would write about Wilkie
and Charlie. Cold is better; railroad
journey was delightful.
.25 card identifying William Collins,
1787-1847, artist, and father of Wilkie Collins
76x78.26-.29 Items
relating to the Rev. J. Morton Colson, Jr.
.26 Letter, J. M. Colson, Jr., Piddle Hinton
near
Encloses an etching of Cerne Abbey
for publication in their magazine.
.27 Letter, J. M. Colson, Jr., P. Hinton, to
Messrs. Nichols & Son, July 10, n.y.
More about his etching of Cerne
Abbey and his lack of experience in engraving.
Sends etchings of Sherbourne Barn and Abbotsbury Chapel. Many picturesque subjects in Dorset.
.28 Part of a letter from an unknown person
to an unknown person, about the work of J. Morton Colson, Jr., particularly
commenting on his etching of Cerne Abbey.
.29 Letter, July[?] Nichols[?], to J. M.
Colson, Jr., n.y.
His etching of Cerne Abbey is not
good enough for publication but the plate could be improved by another
engraver.
On back: part of another letter: do
not wish to publish the view of Cerne Abbey because it is a well-known subject;
but wish to see his other work
76x78.30-.32 Items
relating to Abraham Cooper
.30 Letter, Abm. Cooper to Warren, n.y.
Requesting an engraving.
.31 Print, portrait of Abraham Cooper , from
painting by A. Davis Cooper, engraved by C. E. Wagstaff.
.32 Print, portrait of Abraham Cooper
76x78.33-.34 Items
relating to Thomas Sidney Cooper
.33 Letter, T. S. Cooper, [
.34 Letter, T. S. Cooper,
Wishes to hear from him about the
picture before he leaves town.
76x78.35 Letter,
L. N. Cottingham, Waterloo Bridge Rd., to Mr. Howard, April 7, 1840.
Submitting
a design for a village church for the Royal Academy exhibition.
76x78.36 Letter,
John Cousen, Kent, to Mr. Hogarth, January 12, 1840.
About
proofs of pictures.
76x78.37 Letter,
Samuel Cousins, to “Dear Sir,” November 2, 1864.
Mentions two plates on
which he is working, “Whittington” and “Dawn.” Needs an advance on the money due him.
12x109 Letter, Walter Crane, London, to
Captain Seccombe, Feb. 8, 1893.
“The photographs are
capital….” Comments on putting “Georgian
parliamentarians into togas.” Clothing
is like the earth’s crust. Thanks for
the American colonial chair. General
invitation to come visit.
This letter was found in
the book The Claims of Decorative Art,
by Walter Crane, inscribed to Captain W. S. Seccombe, which is in the Rare
Books section of the Winterthur Library.
76x78.38 Letter, Edmund Thornton Crawford, House
of Commons, to Mr. Gordin, Local Secretary, March 2, 1855.
Is honored by the
proposal of making him an Honorary Member of the British Association.
76x78.55a-b Print, portrait of George du Maurier,
attached to which is a sheet with his address in France, August 3, 1877
76x78.39a-b Print, portrait of Elizabeth Eastlake, from
the painting by Sir Wm. Boxall (engraver’s name not given);
signature
of Elizabeth Eastlake, evidently clipped from a letter.
76x78.40 Letter,
John Faed, Edinburg, to William Agnew, April 30, 1861.
About
using his painting “Pastimes in Times Past” to illustrate a poem.
76x78.41 Letter,
Thomas Faed, to William Agnew, n.d.
Invitation
to supper so Agnew can see his current picture.
76x78.43 Letter,
Myles Birket Foster, Surrey, to the Rev. Mr. Cecil Moore, June 28, 1878.
Hopes
Moore can stay longer than one night.
76x78.44-.45 Items
relating to William Powell Frith
.44 Letter, Frith, Bayswater, to Mr.
Wingfield, April 19, 1880.
About a miniature.
.45 Letter, Frith, to “Dear Sir,” October 5,
1845.
His mother
had ordered a catalog of the exhibit; glad the sales have been so good.
76x78.42 Letter,
William Edward Frost to J. Lockyer[?], November 29, 1865.
Asking help in settling
a matter with a landlord, whose apartment Frost plans to vacate at once.
76x78.46 Letter,
Harry Furniss, Regents Park, to Mr. Leslie, February 8, 1896.
Apologizes for calling
when Mr. Leslie was worried and upset about matters at the P.M.C.[?] office.
76x78.47 Letter,
George Hayter somewhere in France, to Mr. Brandon, n.d.
Requests
Mr. Brandon to call while Sir Edd. Codmington is sitting.
76x78.48-.50 items
relating to John Calcott Horsley
.48 Letter, Horsley to W. Agnew, May 10, 1869.
Horsley’s brother-in-law is planning
to sell his Turner watercolors, and Agnew may see them before the auction at
Christies. Mentions a picture noticed in
The Times.
.49 Letter, Horsley, Kensington, to
[illegible], December 1, 1887.
Unable to leave the house because
has shingles. Some about the R.A.’s
exhibit.
.50a Letter, Horsley, Kensington, to “Dear
Madam,” December 5, 1887.
Will she have Mr. Reece take his
pictures to the R.A. committee as he cannot leave the house because of
shingles.
.50b carte de visite photo of Horsley, taken by
Elliott & Fry, Portman Square
76x78.51 Letter,
Herbert Percy Horne, Fitzroy St., to Mr. Lane, July 13, 1892.
About
proofs of a book.
76x78.52 Photo
of Charles Landseer, standing by a table, on which rests his top hat.
76x78.53 Note,
Edwin Landseer, Regents Park, to the Hon. Mr. W. Ponsonby, n.d.
Acknowledges
receipt of check; hopes to finish picture soon.
76x78.54 Note,
John Linnell to “My dear sir,” May 9, 1866 (?)
Received
poem and book and will soon send a sketch.
76x78.56 Letter,
James Baker Pyne, Fulham, to Mr. Hurlwall (?), March 24, 1843.
Accepts
his and Mr. Mullen’s invitation for Monday.
76x78.57 Letter,
Edward Linley Sambourne, Kensington, to Mr. Thompson, April 30, 1885.
Requests that Thompson
have his critic look at Sambourne’s fisheries drawing and mention it in his
writings. Names prices for his works.
76x78.58 Postcard,
Alfred Stevens to Miss Ina Mary Wite, Aberdeen, 1903 (?)
Note in French.
(postcard
has picture of la Place Vendôme,
76x78.59 Note,
Henry Tidey to “Dear Sir,” n.d.
Requests
that his address be corrected in the next catalog.