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Description
British (English) painter, known for his marine subjects and landscapes.
ALS. 3pp. Incorporating a self-portrait of the artist at work. Tor Villa, Campden Hill, Kensington. Tuesday [no month or year]. To T[homas] Miller, Esq.
"Our carrier has just taken the picture of the Sea Wall to the r[ailwa]y satation and I shall be anxious to hear of its safe arrival at your house. My lot, I mean my seat, was a hard one at times [here he incorporates a pen and ink drawing of himself seated astride a sea wall engaged in painting a large canvas] but it was a great pleasure to be pleasantly employed in such a beautiful country and among such capital fellows as those fishermen near, and after work many a pleasant [. . .?] I had in the evening fishing and sea fowl shooting. I remain yours very sincerely, Ja C. Hook. Please to keep the case by you as I shall ask the favour of the loan of the picture for the R.A. Exhibition. You will find the little well picture in the case too. I hope you will like the addition of the bit of sunlight on the near tree".
8vo bifolium. Approx 7 x 4.5 inches. Laid down on part of an old album leaf. Near fine.
James Clarke Hook made several visits to Clovelly in Devon, where many of his marine themed paintings are set. The drawing incorporated into this letter can be identified as the sea wall in Clovelly and, from the position James Clarke Hook occupies in the drawing, it is quite probable that the painting he is engaged upon is 'The Fisherman's Good Night' which shows a mother with her baby bidding farewell to a fisherman who is climbing down the sea wall. This was also published as an etching in 1857.
Provenance: From the 19th century album of Emma Marshall of Penwortham Lodge, Preston. Emma was the daughter of William Marshall, land owner and cotton manufacturer and was related by marriage to the Miller family of baronets, M.P.s and land owners, including Thomas Miller, the purchaser of the painting referred to in this letter by James Clarke Hook.
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