[Illustrated letter from William Orpen to Mrs St George with a sketch of the artist feeling lonely]

Handwritten letter on 8, South Bolton Gardens headed paper. Orpen writes to Mrs St George while she is travelling on a passage steamer to New York. He talks of feeling lonely as everyone is out of town.There is also a sketch of the artist looking lonely.

nd

Ink and pencil on paper

 

Private Collection

Prints & Drawings Department

 

 

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.