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Letter from Benjamin WestAuthor(s): Benjamin WestSource: Archives of American Art Journal, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Jan., 1964), pp. 11-12Published by: The Smithsonian InstitutionStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1557009 .

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In 1906 Mary Fanton was married to W. Carman Roberts, a family connection of the poet Bliss Car- man, and himself a writer, poet and naturalist.

Through her husband she became involved with a coterie of naturalist writers itcluding Ernest Seton and John Burroughs.

During her long career in newspaper and periodi- cal journalism, she was managing editor of The

Craftsman, creator and editor of The Touchstone

Magazine, and Decorative Arts, and for seventeen

years editor of Arts and Decoration. She became well

acquainted with famous actors, actresses and writers and was a devotee of the modern dance movement.

The Roberts collection in the Archives of Ameri- can Art contains letters from famous and notable

people of the period: the aforementioned artists, Ellen Terry, Richard and Eva LeGallienne, Tilly Losch, Walter Hampden and Mary Shaw, the last named an actress vitally interested in the suffragette movement in which Mary Roberts was also mildly interested. A greeting card from Mary Shaw to Mary Roberts at Christmas time 1913 is reproduced below.

In 1906 Mary Fanton was married to W. Carman Roberts, a family connection of the poet Bliss Car- man, and himself a writer, poet and naturalist.

Through her husband she became involved with a coterie of naturalist writers itcluding Ernest Seton and John Burroughs.

During her long career in newspaper and periodi- cal journalism, she was managing editor of The

Craftsman, creator and editor of The Touchstone

Magazine, and Decorative Arts, and for seventeen

years editor of Arts and Decoration. She became well

acquainted with famous actors, actresses and writers and was a devotee of the modern dance movement.

The Roberts collection in the Archives of Ameri- can Art contains letters from famous and notable

people of the period: the aforementioned artists, Ellen Terry, Richard and Eva LeGallienne, Tilly Losch, Walter Hampden and Mary Shaw, the last named an actress vitally interested in the suffragette movement in which Mary Roberts was also mildly interested. A greeting card from Mary Shaw to Mary Roberts at Christmas time 1913 is reproduced below.

Te duf:firaist Trying to Arouse Ier Sisters Te duf:firaist Trying to Arouse Ier Sisters

I Central : ue-Suffi:s st To ridht=inty at her feet lies Prostitution To let is doz. Conventionality Dhind Conventionality is Wageearner.

COPYRIGHT BY ELLA BUCHANAN. 1911

I Central : ue-Suffi:s st To ridht=inty at her feet lies Prostitution To let is doz. Conventionality Dhind Conventionality is Wageearner.

COPYRIGHT BY ELLA BUCHANAN. 1911

A vital interest in the dance movement led to her

acquaintance and friendship with Romola Nijinsky, wife of the famous Russian dancer, as well as with

Angna Enters, Argentina, Escudero, and Isadora Duncan.

Collections such as the Mary Fanton Roberts papers are a delight to the archivist and a valuable addi- tion to the Archives' papers on the early 20th century.

M.K.P.

LETI'ER FROM BENJAMIN WEST

Benjamin West was the first American painter to achieve an international reputation. As a promising young Pennsylvanian, he studied in Italy in 1760 and three years later moved on to London where he remained for the rest of his long life. At his death in 1820 he was the most celebrated artist in the English speaking world.

The following letter, recently acquired by the Archives, is addressed to John Green, a friend and fellow painter from Philadelphia. It sheds light on West's early period in England and on the art scene in London under George III.

As West says, "You will exchuse incorrecness ..."

London Sepr. 10, 1771

Dear Mr. Green

After a Seperation of near twelve years from Each other and ten of them passd by without a line dropt you from me. Must have appeared very extraordinary to you after so many years Friendship had subsisted between us in America. It is indeed not to be ex-

pressd the pleasure I feel in siting down to hold this little conferance with a Friend that has had so great a share in the many pleasing hours of merth and

youthfull jolity as has passd between us in that pe- riod of life which men look back to with greatest pleasure. On reading your kind favour to me from Barbados I find in it that warmth of Friendship I so often experienced in you hear to.fore, and did I not

equally declare the same on my part I should write in

opposition to a Heart that has felt every pang for an absent Friend. Tho the long omission of not writing on my part must have apeared very strange to my dear Friend, yet when he knows the occasion his

surprize must cease. On my Arrival in England from Italy which was in

the end of 1763 the first Americans I mett with I

speared no paines to informe myself in what part of america you ware, one told me you ware still in

A vital interest in the dance movement led to her

acquaintance and friendship with Romola Nijinsky, wife of the famous Russian dancer, as well as with

Angna Enters, Argentina, Escudero, and Isadora Duncan.

Collections such as the Mary Fanton Roberts papers are a delight to the archivist and a valuable addi- tion to the Archives' papers on the early 20th century.

M.K.P.

LETI'ER FROM BENJAMIN WEST

Benjamin West was the first American painter to achieve an international reputation. As a promising young Pennsylvanian, he studied in Italy in 1760 and three years later moved on to London where he remained for the rest of his long life. At his death in 1820 he was the most celebrated artist in the English speaking world.

The following letter, recently acquired by the Archives, is addressed to John Green, a friend and fellow painter from Philadelphia. It sheds light on West's early period in England and on the art scene in London under George III.

As West says, "You will exchuse incorrecness ..."

London Sepr. 10, 1771

Dear Mr. Green

After a Seperation of near twelve years from Each other and ten of them passd by without a line dropt you from me. Must have appeared very extraordinary to you after so many years Friendship had subsisted between us in America. It is indeed not to be ex-

pressd the pleasure I feel in siting down to hold this little conferance with a Friend that has had so great a share in the many pleasing hours of merth and

youthfull jolity as has passd between us in that pe- riod of life which men look back to with greatest pleasure. On reading your kind favour to me from Barbados I find in it that warmth of Friendship I so often experienced in you hear to.fore, and did I not

equally declare the same on my part I should write in

opposition to a Heart that has felt every pang for an absent Friend. Tho the long omission of not writing on my part must have apeared very strange to my dear Friend, yet when he knows the occasion his

surprize must cease. On my Arrival in England from Italy which was in

the end of 1763 the first Americans I mett with I

speared no paines to informe myself in what part of america you ware, one told me you ware still in Charles Town South Carolina, an other told me you had left that place for Bermuda so I remained no Charles Town South Carolina, an other told me you had left that place for Bermuda so I remained no

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better informd and to write you was all unceartain of a letters meeting with you. In this unceartainty I remained till Harry Howes from NYork arrived hear who informed me of my dear Mr. Green haveing de-

parted this life some time the beginning of 1764 this he assured me was true as a Friend of his from Ber- muda to NYork told him he was at your Funeral, from that time 1764 to 1770 I felt all that Friendship can feel on such an ocasion. I must hear tell you I received a letter of yours at that time fourteen months after date which date was prior to the time fixt of

your death,-the begining of last year Mr. Stuard was over hear for orders who had resided in Bermuda for some years and was well acquainted with you in that

place he assured me he left you well there a few moths past, and that you intended shortly after that to imbark for the West India Ilands, and a flew months after that Mr. Young an artist from Barbados calld on me who told me you ware there and often

spoke of me to him, from this I was assured my friend

yet lived, and he promised to give me your address but he never fulfild his promis.

Hear you have an exact History and the cause of

your never haveing received a line from me. but now as this Happy Intercourse from Friend to Friend is once more astablished, I hope nothing will prevent its subsisting, till the arrival of that sure decree which

they Fates passd on us at our Births shall come to

pass, till then my dear Friend may be assured I shall ever be at his command and would have most gladly complyed with his request by this opportunity but the shortness of time prevents me procureing those

thing in the painting way which you have desired. It was but ten days past when I received your kind letter and my not chooseing to lett the first oppor- tunity pass by without acknowledgeing the receipt of it. Therefore shall take the next opportunity that offers to send you the above mentioned things with

my portrait-And I must begg if it so happens that

you dont come to England that you would oblidge me with yours-But I hope the day will come when I shall see you in London for be assured when ever that may happen I shall most gladly receive you and if I am so happy from any little knowledge I may possess in the art of painting to be of any use to you I shall have the highest pleasure in oblidgeing you.

As the foregoing part of this letter is some what

apologiseing to my Friend for what he looked on as an neglect in me for not writing him I shall con- clude with a slight outline of my Family and self-I make no doubt but you must have heard soon after

my determaning to settle in London that my long loved Betsey came to England whare we married and in her I find myself happy in a Companion for life

better informd and to write you was all unceartain of a letters meeting with you. In this unceartainty I remained till Harry Howes from NYork arrived hear who informed me of my dear Mr. Green haveing de-

parted this life some time the beginning of 1764 this he assured me was true as a Friend of his from Ber- muda to NYork told him he was at your Funeral, from that time 1764 to 1770 I felt all that Friendship can feel on such an ocasion. I must hear tell you I received a letter of yours at that time fourteen months after date which date was prior to the time fixt of

your death,-the begining of last year Mr. Stuard was over hear for orders who had resided in Bermuda for some years and was well acquainted with you in that

place he assured me he left you well there a few moths past, and that you intended shortly after that to imbark for the West India Ilands, and a flew months after that Mr. Young an artist from Barbados calld on me who told me you ware there and often

spoke of me to him, from this I was assured my friend

yet lived, and he promised to give me your address but he never fulfild his promis.

Hear you have an exact History and the cause of

your never haveing received a line from me. but now as this Happy Intercourse from Friend to Friend is once more astablished, I hope nothing will prevent its subsisting, till the arrival of that sure decree which

they Fates passd on us at our Births shall come to

pass, till then my dear Friend may be assured I shall ever be at his command and would have most gladly complyed with his request by this opportunity but the shortness of time prevents me procureing those

thing in the painting way which you have desired. It was but ten days past when I received your kind letter and my not chooseing to lett the first oppor- tunity pass by without acknowledgeing the receipt of it. Therefore shall take the next opportunity that offers to send you the above mentioned things with

my portrait-And I must begg if it so happens that

you dont come to England that you would oblidge me with yours-But I hope the day will come when I shall see you in London for be assured when ever that may happen I shall most gladly receive you and if I am so happy from any little knowledge I may possess in the art of painting to be of any use to you I shall have the highest pleasure in oblidgeing you.

As the foregoing part of this letter is some what

apologiseing to my Friend for what he looked on as an neglect in me for not writing him I shall con- clude with a slight outline of my Family and self-I make no doubt but you must have heard soon after

my determaning to settle in London that my long loved Betsey came to England whare we married and in her I find myself happy in a Companion for life She has blessd me with one Boy who has entered into his sixth year he seems a Boy of great spirits and Talent, and I hope one day may be an Ornment in

She has blessd me with one Boy who has entered into his sixth year he seems a Boy of great spirits and Talent, and I hope one day may be an Ornment in

Society and Friendship I am happy in him and his mamma.

In reguard to the arts hear in England this seems to be the Augustan Age. Tho this is a nation so long faimd for her greatness yet the arts never apeared heare till the Reighn of George Third which is owing to his Tast and Munifisiance and under his Patron-

age London bids faire to vie with Rome and Paris. The Exhibitions hear have drove men to pursue de- firent departments in the art of pinting-amongst which I have undertaken to whele the club of Her- culus-in plain English I have imbarked in Historical

painting-by which meanes I have removed that long received opinion that That was a department in the art that never would be incourage in this Kingdom. But I can say I have been so fare successfull in it that I find my pictures sell for a prise that no living artist ever received before. I hope this is a Circum- stance that will induce others to do the same; for the

great necessity a man is under hear to have money in his Poket often directs the studies of youths con-

treary to theire geniues-It is to this I impute theire

Timidity in not haveing ever produced a painter in that departure of art and not that want of guenies which the Illnatured voyce of critick's hav alledged -As the night is fare spent and our Friend Mr. Lever- land waites for this letter to send with his to Bar- bados I must bid my Dear Friend A Dieu-and ever am with great affection His most

Obet Humble Servant

[signed] Benjn West You will exchuse incorrecness as I have no time to

coppy this letter

The Artist and The Wonderful World of International Provincialism

Jimmy Ernst

The problem of the artist in society is, like all

superbly simple questions, far too complicated to

expound in a lecture, in a book-length study, a life- time of observation or even a massive institutional

inquiry. At best, we can touch, from time to time, on some obvious particles of that enormous cloud of dust that began in prehistoric caves and may be solved in the post-historic caves of the future. It all

depends on when, or if, the fatal buttons are pushed. And here precisely is the first and most glaring separation of the artist from society. His work will remain the one activity that cannot be activated or

programmed by button. Everything else, including possibly procreation, might eventually escape the

Society and Friendship I am happy in him and his mamma.

In reguard to the arts hear in England this seems to be the Augustan Age. Tho this is a nation so long faimd for her greatness yet the arts never apeared heare till the Reighn of George Third which is owing to his Tast and Munifisiance and under his Patron-

age London bids faire to vie with Rome and Paris. The Exhibitions hear have drove men to pursue de- firent departments in the art of pinting-amongst which I have undertaken to whele the club of Her- culus-in plain English I have imbarked in Historical

painting-by which meanes I have removed that long received opinion that That was a department in the art that never would be incourage in this Kingdom. But I can say I have been so fare successfull in it that I find my pictures sell for a prise that no living artist ever received before. I hope this is a Circum- stance that will induce others to do the same; for the

great necessity a man is under hear to have money in his Poket often directs the studies of youths con-

treary to theire geniues-It is to this I impute theire

Timidity in not haveing ever produced a painter in that departure of art and not that want of guenies which the Illnatured voyce of critick's hav alledged -As the night is fare spent and our Friend Mr. Lever- land waites for this letter to send with his to Bar- bados I must bid my Dear Friend A Dieu-and ever am with great affection His most

Obet Humble Servant

[signed] Benjn West You will exchuse incorrecness as I have no time to

coppy this letter

The Artist and The Wonderful World of International Provincialism

Jimmy Ernst

The problem of the artist in society is, like all

superbly simple questions, far too complicated to

expound in a lecture, in a book-length study, a life- time of observation or even a massive institutional

inquiry. At best, we can touch, from time to time, on some obvious particles of that enormous cloud of dust that began in prehistoric caves and may be solved in the post-historic caves of the future. It all

depends on when, or if, the fatal buttons are pushed. And here precisely is the first and most glaring separation of the artist from society. His work will remain the one activity that cannot be activated or

programmed by button. Everything else, including possibly procreation, might eventually escape the control of the individual. Even today, the work of art, as Meyer Shapiro pointed out some years ago, remains the only uniquely handmade human object

control of the individual. Even today, the work of art, as Meyer Shapiro pointed out some years ago, remains the only uniquely handmade human object

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