DLA014-0005  Transcription

CHARLOTTE SQUARE

EDINBURGH

July 24. 1917

My dear Friend,

I am sorry that I have not yet sent you the catalogue of the Royal Scottish Academy, nor told you how much the portrait [2338] has been appreciated.^[1]

The President^[2] mentioned to a friend that he considered it an admirable specimen of your work; and many of my artist friends have said the same. But what [illegible words] to me

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has been the [illegible] of some of my personal friends. e.g. “I have gone to the Exhibition several times just to look at your portrait and let it talk to me.” Another dear friend has said “ I take the photograph of it out and look at the eyes and wonder what you are going to say next.” A letter from the sister of one who has died recently says: “he asked to have it beside him in his last days.”

So you see how much you have done for my friends.

Your portrait of my cousin

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Lieut. T. A. Nelson [6433] who fell in France last April is a priceless possession to his widow and Mother^[3] now. How many homes you have comforted in these sad days.

Yours affectionately,

A. H. F. Barbour

SMDL

27/11/2017