GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This is a letter from the artist to the director of the then Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. A copy of this letter is available in the DMA archives.
Dear Jerry:
When I heard that the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts had purchased my tempera "That Gentleman" I was of course delighted. Without knowing any of the particulars, I thought that some wealthy donor had underwritten the high cost. This morning when I read your letter stating the plain facts that only through hard work on the part of all would the funds be raised, my appreciation knows no bounds. For an American Museum to be convinced enough of American painting to work at such lengths to acquire what they feel is a top example of contemporary American painting is to me one of the most refreshing and stimulating pieces of news I have received in a long time.
It has been my policy to keep the working drawings for my temperas. In this case it gives me the greatest pleasure to send as a gift to the Dallas Museum one of those that evolved into "That Gentleman." I hope you like it.
The man who posed for the painting is Mr. Tom Clark of Chadds Ford—He has been my most constant model for the last four or five years. Some times (sic) his figure appears, some times just the house he lives in—Mr. and Mrs. Lauglin own a very close dry brush water color of him titled "Citizen Clark". At the moment hanging in my house are two very recent dry brush water colors of him.
The scissors might suggest that he does his own housekeeping. A neat old man that keeps his simple house in perfect order. The kitchen is furnished with only the essentials, his wood-burning cook stove, oil lamps, a pump at the sink, a day bed, a table with a few wooden chairs. This is all he needs and all he wants. Luxuries do not interest him. I have become very familiar with the routine of his day. The simplisity (sic) to me is however very luxurious. His voice is gentle, his wit keen and his wisdom enormous. He is not a character, but a very dignified gentleman who might otherwise have gone unrecorded. That he has given me this opportunity to show others I shall always be in his debt.
I am grateful that you feel the painting should be at Dallas.
With warmest personal regards—
Sincerely
Andy
NOTES
I met with Hillary on October 20 to see this letter as part of my research for an Uncrated blog post on thank you notes in the DMA files.
She can't fit the matted pages from this letter on her scanner. Hillary has put this letter (as well as the 18th century papers related to Captain John Pratt) in queue for future photography. (See email from Hillary, November 16, 2016.)
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
Scanned letter (photocopies in the object file)
UMO pending
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
set operator as OR
apply to objects where number equals 1962.11
apply to objects where number equals 1962.27
Category
rules_operator
OR
General Description
This is a letter from the artist to the director of the then Dallas Museum of Fine Arts. A copy of this letter is available in the DMA archives.
Dear Jerry:
When I heard that the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts had purchased my tempera "That Gentleman" I was of course delighted. Without knowing any of the particulars, I thought that some wealthy donor had underwritten the high cost. This morning when I read your letter stating the plain facts that only through hard work on the part of all would the funds be raised, my appreciation knows no bounds. For an American Museum to be convinced enough of American painting to work at such lengths to acquire what they feel is a top example of contemporary American painting is to me one of the most refreshing and stimulating pieces of news I have received in a long time.
It has been my policy to keep the working drawings for my temperas. In this case it gives me the greatest pleasure to send as a gift to the Dallas Museum one of those that evolved into "That Gentleman." I hope you like it.
The man who posed for the painting is Mr. Tom Clark of Chadds Ford—He has been my most constant model for the last four or five years. Some times (sic) his figure appears, some times just the house he lives in—Mr. and Mrs. Lauglin own a very close dry brush water color of him titled "Citizen Clark". At the moment hanging in my house are two very recent dry brush water colors of him.
The scissors might suggest that he does his own housekeeping. A neat old man that keeps his simple house in perfect order. The kitchen is furnished with only the essentials, his wood-burning cook stove, oil lamps, a pump at the sink, a day bed, a table with a few wooden chairs. This is all he needs and all he wants. Luxuries do not interest him. I have become very familiar with the routine of his day. The simplisity (sic) to me is however very luxurious. His voice is gentle, his wit keen and his wisdom enormous. He is not a character, but a very dignified gentleman who might otherwise have gone unrecorded. That he has given me this opportunity to show others I shall always be in his debt.
I am grateful that you feel the painting should be at Dallas.
With warmest personal regards—
Sincerely
Andy
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
I met with Hillary on October 20 to see this letter as part of my research for an Uncrated blog post on thank you notes in the DMA files.
She can't fit the matted pages from this letter on her scanner. Hillary has put this letter (as well as the 18th century papers related to Captain John Pratt) in queue for future photography. (See email from Hillary, November 16, 2016.)
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1962.11
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1962.27
source file
dma_insight-0029.xml.nores