RENNIE, JOHN
Autograph Letter Signed, with illustration, 3 pages on bifolium measuring 7 x 9 1/4 inches with sketch on page one, London, March 10, 1821. Rennie writes to Admiral Viscount Keith (1746-1823) giving details about constructing an embankment for his estate, Tullliallan, in Scotland. At the time Rennie wrote this letter, he was renown for designing and building bridges, canals and harbors throughout England. Here he provides design details for the proposed embankment and sketches the slope he prefers on the first page. He provides greater detail in accompanying drawings rendered in another hand. Towards the end of the second page, Rennie refers to his construction, the Southwark Bridge. "The tolls of the Southwark Bridge are not increasing so fast as could be wished, the bridge itself is in a perfect state of security more so even than I expected." He signs, "John Rennie," and continues in a post script. "Unless the earth of which the bank is to be made is Clay or of a retentive nature a puddle about 2 feet thick should be made in the middle of the bank to prevent the water from getting through it as in the dotted line on the Sketch." John Rennie died about seven months after he wrote this letter. Condition: Two small holes along center margin, another along horizontal fold on third page, slight tear at horizontal fold on first and second page, not affecting text. Letters of the elder John Rennie seldom appear for sale and those with drawings are particularly uncommon.
DRAYTON, GRACE
Drayton is considered one of the first and most successful female cartoon artists. Her characters include the Campbell Soup Kids, Dolly Dimples, Comfy and Kitty Cutie. On her printed personal stationery, Drayton replies to a fan with four pencil sketches along the bottom edge. "Grace Drayton Studio" stationery, 4to, New York City, July 9, 1930. Drayton expresses pleasure that her correspondent liked, "Dolly, Bobby, Comfy and Kittens.They come out daily in the New York American and the Sunday page. You can find them in the Philadelphia Inquirer.They keep me pretty busy drawing from morning until night." She notes the fan letters, "Keep up my enthusiasm." She signs in full, "Grace Drayton," and sketches in light pencil the faces of Dolly, Bobby, Comfy and Kitty Cutie. Included is her handwritten envelope with her signature, "G. Drayton" included in the return address.
"'On Loan' an exhibition of borrowed art lent by artists. Nov. 22-Dec. 19th , 1980.Cambridge Road, London." Our edition consists of a cream colored labeled box, numbered on the bottom, that holds small library card holders and cards identifying artist and their artwork. Some of the holders include cards with the images of the artwork, and several cards are not in holders. The cream colored box is inserted in a heavier structured paper box also numbered on the bottom. Our edition is number "3 of 15" and consists of 33 signed card holders and 61 cards. The small cards measuring 3 1/4 x 2 inches are printed in black as are the library card holders of similar dimensions. Artists participating in the exhibition have signed their respective named card holders. Artists' signed library card holders or cards: David Brown, Roger Ackling, Les Coleman, Simon Cutts, Stephen Duncalf, Barry Flanagan, Bill Furlong, Hamish Fulton, John Furnival, Gerry Hunt, Glen Baxter, Sandra Fisher, Marc Chalmovicz, John Christie, Laurie Clarke, Robin Kiassnik, Brian Lane, Richard Long, Leonard McComb, Stuart Mills,Roy Perry, Eduardo Paolozzi, David Pescod, David Roe, Martin Rogers, Gallery East, Joe Tilson, Ian Tyson, Simon Cutts for Peter Turner, Steve Wheatley, Stephen Willats, Jonathan Williams, Richard Wilson.
Printed and Signed Photograph cover for a menu from "The Ahwahnee" restaurant, 8vo,4 pages folded, Yosemite National Park, August 4, 1953. The cover of this attractive and scarce dinner menu is illustrated with a print of Adams' photograph titled, "Winter Sports in Yosemite," A full explanation of the image is printed on the back cover where Adams has signed in full, "Ansel Adams." To the right of the signature, the front image is explained, "El Capitan, Merced River, Yosemite National Park California From a Photograph by Ansel Adams." The menu, which includes "Lobster a la Newburg" as well as a "Cheese omelet," opens to 4to, ideal for displaying the photograph, explanatory text and signature. Very attractive for display.
To the head of the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art, Leslie William Miller (1848-1031), Eakins proposes an exhibit. "Thinking it might be of interest to young composers to see all the working drawings for a composite picture, I send you those of my my compositions now on exhibition at the Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts, a portrait of Mrs. Frishmuth ['Antiquated Music' Portrait of Sarah Sagehorn Frishmuth shown seated with her collection of musical instruments 1900], who gave the University of Pennsylvania (Archeological Dep't) its superb collection of musical instruments. The first sketch and general perspective are for convenience made one sixth the size of the picture that is they are to be viewed at one sixth from the eye of the finished picture. To save time in calculating proportions, I have as some cases used a table of logarithms." He signs, "Thomas Eakins." The letter presents Eakins as both a portrait painter and an art educator. Condition: Creasing along mail folds. Archival tape attached to top and bottom of third page and remnants of mounting adhesive to fourth page. Date of receipt of the letter is stamped under the date on the first page. Included is a photograph reproduction of the painting referenced in the letter, "Antiquated Music," with credit on verso. Eakins is widely acknowledged as one of America's most important artists. His work received little recognition during his lifetime, however, posthumously he has been celebrated by art historians as among the most important, if not the most significant, realist painter of the 19th and early 20th centuries. He focused on the human form in his painting, sculptor and photography. He is also recognized as a fine arts educator for his work at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Eakins built the program into the leading American art school in the late nineteenth-century, but was forced to resign after he allowed a fully nude male model to pose for his class of male and female students. He struggled to work as a portrait painter following his dismissal because of his emphasis on realistic portrayals of his subjects. In the year following his death, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Pennsylvania Academy held exhibitions of Eakins' paintings, and by the 1930's, he was recognized as one of the nation's great painters.
The Queen is shown seated on a horse, draped in outdoor clothing, gloves and scarf, with her attendant standing and holding the horse's rein. On the lower margin, the photograph and photographer are identified, "The Queen - Balmoral, G. W, Wilson, Aberdeen [Photographer]." Docketed on verso in pencil is the date of the photograph, "1863," and identification of the man attending the Queen: "John Brown, Gillie [favorite servant], after Prince Albert's death, became Queen's regular attendant in the Highlands. He died in 1883." Victoria is photographed with her youngest child and fifth daughter, Princess Beatrice, 1857-1944), by royal photographer Arthur Melbuish. Victoria is seated holding an open fan, photographed by W & D Downey. A fine trio of photographs of the Queen.
1-A sketchbook of 119 drawings mainly of people but also several circus animals, dated "28 Feb. 46, Los Angeles. " Many of the sketches show men in military uniform, one at the USO in Union Station, people outdoors dressed in coats, one woman on strike, others indoors, sleeping in chairs, ironing, waiting around, several musicians. The sketches appear to capture people unknown to the artist engaged in every day life in Los Angeles in 1946. Most pages are dated with month and day. The sketchbook titled, "The Scribble In Book," is bound in gray worn boards, loose, cracked spine, all pages in tact. ($250) 2-Anatomical Sketchbook, 1888, "Gatten [?]", titled on first free end paper, "Anatomy, Anatomy of the Human Figure." Attached to the inside cover is a newspaper clipping about applicants for the Royal Academy of Painters. The sketchbook includes handwritten anatomical information about the human body. Sketches of the anatomy are interspersed throughout. Some drawings are pasted in, others are drawn directly onto the sketchbook page. Several illustrations of "The Muscles" towards the end of the book are rendered in ink and bright water color. 23 of the last pages have come unhinged and rest on the back cover loosely connected to the spine as is the cover. Bound in very worn and weak marbled boards with the hand written title, "AN.T". Internal condition of all but the last pages is very good with strong drawings. ($350) 3-Diary written in verse, four parts, one page is titled, "Original Select Poetry," with Part the Second" crossed out, 19th or early 20th century. Opposite this page, the next page is titled, "The Indian Day." Another section is titled, "Stanzas to Rose." another, "To My First Born." Leather boards unhinged and pages not in clear order. ($100) Individually priced or $625 for 3.