An illustrated letter over two sheets to Margaret Burne-Jones, from Naworth Castle, Brampton, Cumberland

Details

Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Bt., A.R.A., R.W.S. (1833-1898)
An illustrated letter over two sheets to Margaret Burne-Jones, from Naworth Castle, Brampton, Cumberland
the first inscribed 'My dear Margaret/ THE FOOTMAN/ THE ALARM BELL!/ THE GLEN', the second with date 'Aug: 1874' (upper right) and inscribed 'FROM THE CASTLE ROOF SCOTLAND IN THE DISTANCE/ A WALK OVER THE MOORS/ MY BEDROOM/ THE DONJON [sic]/ now I must conclude/ Ever your affect. Papa' (variously inscribed recto and verso)
pen and brown ink on writing paper blind-stamped 'Naworth Castle/ Brampton/ Cumberland', with unidentified watermarks
each 7 1/8 x 4 ½ in. (18.1 x 11.4 cm.) folded; 7 1/8 x 8 7/8 in. (18.1 x 22.6 cm.) unfolded

Provenance

The artist's daughter Margaret Mackail (1866-1953), and by descent to her daughter,
Angela Margaret Thirkell (née Mackail) (1890-1966), and by descent to her son,
Graham Campbell McInnes (1912-1970), by whom given to his daughter, and by descent.

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Lot Essay

On the advice of his doctor Burne-Jones left London in August 1874 to stay with George Howard and his wife where William Morris joined them. In a letter to Aglaia Coronio, Morris wrote "...all is very pleasant. Ned & I pass our mornings in a most delightful room in one of the towers that has not been touched since William Howard of Queen Elizabeth's time lived there: the whole place is certainly the most poetical in England... The whole country side is most poetical & full of history & legend. I think it has done Ned a great deal of good coming here: he is certainly better, & is cheerful & natural: the beauty of all this country moves him hugely’ (P. Henderson, (ed.), The Letters of William Morris to His Family and Friends, London, 1950, p. 228).

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