DLA017-0136  Transcription

Hotel Imperiale, Roma

Easter Sunday [20 April 1930]^[1]

My dear Philip,

It is only two days ago from Lucy’s letter that I heard of your presidential election.^[2] My heartiest congratulations old friend. I am very happy indeed to know that this well deserved recognition of your great merits, has been realised. It ought to have been done long ago but in life in every walk there are so many cross currents and sandpits which prevent the natural course of events.

I expect this post of honour will keep you more busy than ever, but it is a lofty aim to work in the cause of the further aim of art.

Now I am going to tell you once more briefly what I am doing in order to arrive at a certain (modest though)

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accomplishment in painting. I work every morning at the British Academy of Arts Via Margutta 53. I am drawing from life nude, each week we have a new and very good model, one week a man, another week a woman. I must tell you frankly that to have for hours a young and handsome female before my eyes is a bit of a temptation – I have not been used to such sights! Certainly not for many years – But I overcome the sensation of strangeness – at least think of anything else, except my desire to get some knowledge in drawing. I am making three-four very rough sketches in a fairly large size every morning and there is a little progress. But I find it very hard, the most unpleasant thing is that the room is kept very warm for the models’ sake. The school is an ex-

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cellent institution and has been in existence more than a hundred years – but it ought to get more support from England. There is no official support whatever and it can hardly pay its way. I wrote you the other day who the professors are. In the afternoon I am [illegible] at a painter’s studio his name is [Anivitti?]^[3] He is quite a good painter but not a good teacher. I made the acquaintance of another painter [illegible] a most excellent acquarellist and a little later I am going to have lessons from him. I could not have any lesson out of door yet, as the weather is not warm enough.

Altogether to my great sorrow I find the climate of Rome anything but good for me, and I shall only be able to spend here 2-3 months to follow my art studies, other-

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wise I should like to settle down here and work all the time. It is a great pity I can’t do this, I should love it. It will be very difficult to find a suitable place in Italy where I can spend the greatest part of the year. The winter is too damp for me, in Sicily January and February and here in Rome March and April there is hardly one day when it doesn’t rain hard. I want a dryer and sunnier climate. I am living a very [illegible] life, the sun and paintings have to replace for my wife, children, friends, and everything!!!

I want to spend my life out of doors in the beautiful Natura. [illegible] and I don’t want to be in heated rooms. The central heating here never stops. I don’t want a climate like this.

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At the school there were no Easter holidays except today Sunday. We are working every day. It will close at the end of May. Then I will spend 2-3 weeks here going round the museums and churches and after that – It will be about the 3rd week in June. When they say it begins to be intolerably hot in Rome – I will try to find a place in some mountainous country in Italy and spend the summer there painting. I won’t tell you anything more of myself otherwise you will think I am too egotistic.

I was very glad to receive the “Queen” it is an excellent photograph of yours [sitter?] Lord Scone’s portrait [6264] looks very fine.^[4] I hope you are having a good rest at Easter at Littleworth Corner, of

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course a great deal depends on the weather, I hope you will be able to play golf. I miss this game very much.

If I was a strong, young man I should have gone by aeroplane to London and spend Easter with you, Old Boy, yes this is what old Vilmos would do if he was a young chap!!

Now, I am finishing my letter which I hope you will be able to read. I tried to write very legibly and I hope I have succeeded.

With love to you all your old friend Vilmos.

Editorial Note:

Vilmos Ruttkay de Felső-Ruttka (born 1869), commercial attaché at the Hungarian Embassy in London; for biographical notes, see [4856]. 

CC

11/12/2006