[Cropped letter from William Orpen to Mrs St George with a sketch of the artist at Margate, Kent]

Handwritten letter on faint lined paper. Orpen wrote this letter to Mrs St George during a family holiday to Margate. The content of the letter is not clear as most of the text has been removed.

(1907)

Ink on paper

Orpen painted the oil paintings 'Bothnay Bay, Margate' and 'The Bar in the Hall by the Sea, Margate' in 1907.

Private Collection

Prints & Drawings Department

 

a really good book 'The Fourth
every right minded person
you on his recommendation - I will
back to London - I _____ I will have
back later - as the New English open
back in London by the 23rd
sea shore
- it will
from it
_____ with
evenings
a heading
you
trying
yours
William Orpen

Sir William Orpen, Irish artist, born in Dublin, Orpen trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art before moving to London to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. He remained in London and became a highly successful portrait and subject painter. Appointed Official War Artist in 1917, Orpen left for France and was stationed at Amiens and the Somme Battlefields. He returned to London after the war and remained there until his death.

Florence Evelyn St George, eldest child of New York banker George F Baker. In 1906 while married to Howard Bligh St George she began a relationship with Sir William Orpen.