DLA019-0208  Transcription

Robertson & Bruce, Ltd.

Fine Art Dealers.

Panmure Salon.

90, Commercial Street

Dundee.

Dundee 1st October, 1932.

Philip A. de Laszlo Esq., M.V.O.,

at Ritters Hotel,

Bad Homburg,

Germany.

Dear Mr. de Laszlo,

I trust you received the package which I sent you, containing catalogue, cuttings, menu and letter, all of which I am sure would interest yourself and Mrs. de Laszlo.^[1] I trust by now you are feeling the benefit of the change.

I had a very nice letter from Manor Carnegy of Lour,^[2] in which he congratulated me on the great success of the Opening of your Exhibition, and the beauty of it all. He informed me that Mr. Paul^[3] wrote, giving you an account of the proceedings. He also stated that he and his brother were at Perth races ‘yesterday’ with the Carnegys, and that in the evening they went to Glenogil to stay with Lady Forres.^[4] He also said that they were going on to Cortachy that day; the letter was dated 29th September. I really think Mr. Paul and Mr. Patrick^[5] had enjoyed their short stay in Scotland. When you meet again, they will be able to give you their reminiscences of the visit.

As I explained in my previous letter, the proprietors of the Dundee

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“Evening Telegraph” sent me a full report of the function, which I have much pleasure in enclosing herewith. At a glance, the report may seem rather long to read through, but I think you will find something very interesting on every page, and I hope Mrs. de Laszlo and yourself will enjoy reading it.

I have also enclosed some further cuttings from the Press, which I am sure will interest you.

The Exhibition has proved a tremendous success. Over a thousand people visited it yesterday and over eleven hundred the day before. People from the country arrived here very early this morning. One lady who came into the shop had travelled for almost one hundred miles by rail, and there are quite a number of people coming from the same town by the following train. I fully expect at least three thousand people to visit the Exhibition, to-day.

At the close of the function Lord Strathmore came over and shook hands very sincerely with me, and thanked me for the enjoyable function. He seemed very delighted indeed, and I asked him how he liked the way the portraits of Their Royal Highnesses [9123][9126], the Countess of Strathmore [11641], and himself [11642], were hung. He said he was very delighted indeed, and that the hanging of the entire Gallery was a great success. I then took the opportunity of mentioning that it would be very nice if the Duchess could come and see the Exhibition and he answered that he thought she would enjoy it, but that he did not know her engagements. I mentioned that Mr. Webster would be delighted to close the Galleries for an hour or two so that Her Royal Highness and her friends could have a private view without being disturbed. Mr. Bruce^[6] spoke to Mr. Ralston, the Factor and Secretary, on the telephone, and sounded him on the matter, and Mr. Ralston is to call on me sometime during/

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during [sic] next week. I am very hopeful that Her Royal Highness will grace the Exhibition with her presence. I instructed Mr. Bruce to let Mr. Ralston know over the telephone that you would probably be here on the 14th October, and I thought it would be very pleasing indeed if it were possible for the Duchess of York to come when Mrs. de Laszlo and yourself were here. If I have any special news I shall wire.

Again with our very best wishes to you both, and trusting you will both be able to be with us on the 14th October,

I am, | Yours very sincerely,

John Robertson

P.S. I have sent the report in a separate envelope, and trust it will arrive safely.

JR

Editorial Note:

John Robertson (1862–1943), fine art dealer; for biographical notes, see [4149].

SMDL

23/06/2018