Author: Holmes, Charles.
Format: Four autograph letters signed, with stamped and postmarked Feb-May 1935 envelopes addressed to Holland at “52 Semilong Road, Northampton [UK]”.
Blindstamped letterhead “17 Cavendish Square, London, W1”, 8pp [over 4 double-sided sheets], 18 x 13.7cm to 23 x 17.7cm.
Over four letters, Charles Holmes (English, 1868–1936), artist; art historian; and museum director, encourages George Herbert Buckingham Holland (English, 1901–1987), painter, to pursue portrait painting in fine mediums.
Text includes “I have been thinking over your problem…there is a growing movement in favour of portrait drawings: and an opening for a good man who combines style in-between delicacy in heads no more than 2in high & some fine materials, such as silverpoint pencil…Etching & drypoint of course for those who can do them” and “do not I beg you, give up thinking of drawing portraits in some such attractive medium as that I mentioned.”
It seems as if Holland took Holmes’ advice, as “he made his living painting portraits of Northampton dignitaries.” Ref: NPG UK.
Crinkles to envelopes.
