DLA018-0014 Transcription
WOLMER WOOD.
MARLOW COMMON,
MARLOW, BUCKS.
Dec. 22nd 1930
My dear Philip
I have had a lot to do the last two or three days or I would have written before this to tell you about my talk at Birmingham.[1] It went off very well, I am glad to say, and my attack on the modern extravagances seemed to be generally approved – it was much applauded by my audience. The Birmingham artists are a pretty sane lot and there is a local tradition of sound work which they seem anxious to keep up. I had quite an amusing time as I was able to spend an hour or two in the municipal art gallery – there is a very good collection
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in it – and I then had tea with the members of the society before the talk came off. I had an audience at the talk of a couple of hundred people, the members of the society and their friends; and after the talk was finished two or three people made speeches backing up what I had said. I got back home on Thursday none the worse for my trip.
I enclose a card, as a reminder, for the Pastel Society private view; it is at the New Burlington Galleries as the alterations at the Institute galleries are not finished yet. I hope you will be able to turn up. I expect the show will be much of the usual type but it will be smaller, as there is less space in the New Burlington Galleries than at the Institute.
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I told my wife what you said about arranging a sitting for her [3559] and she says that any date you fix will be all right for her and that she is greatly looking forward to the event – so will you settle a time that suits you.
Our most affectionate greetings for Xmas and the New Year to you all and all the best of good wishes. We shall have a quiet Xmas, but we expect the Kendricks[2] to open it with us and probably Peter will run down for Xmas day.
Our love to you all | ever yours
A.L.B.
Editorial Note:
Alfred Lys Baldry (1858-1939), British artist and art critic who authored several articles on de László and who was a close family friend; for biographical notes, see [3562].
SMDL
08/04/2018
[1] See DLA018-0015, letter from Alfred Lys Baldry to de László, 15 October 1930, in which Baldry refers to an invitation he had received from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists to deliver a lecture to its friends and supporters.
[2] Sydney Percy Kendrick (1874-1955), British artist; one of de László’s favoured official copyists