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His most noted works was for the Cafe' at the Tate Gallery in 1927. His delightful murals, in a lighthearted and graceful rococo style were generally commissioned by private patrons. He also created designs for Wedgwood China. His activities extended to ballet designing scenery and costumes. Charming, illustrated Autograph Letter Signed, 2 pages, on both sides of a 4to leaf. At the top center of page one is an original sketch, a witty pen and ink drawing of a penitent figure (self portrait of Whistler) covered in patched sackcloth and smoking ashes. On the verso are a much larger drawing appx. 5”X3.5” in pen, ink & charcoal, illustrating four panels above a staircase, depicting pastoral scenes. 20 Fitzroy Street (Whistler’s Studio) circa 1936. Letter to a Mrs. (Ernest) Porcelli, apologizing for his delay in finishing the murals he was painting for her home and describing himself as writing in “sackcloth & ashes.” “....I now have the first three panels finished (all but certain details in the foreground) & the fourth big canvas will be ready for fixing at the end of next week I should say. Will you come and inspect them someday”....Again do forgive me for being so slow but I have been putting an immense amount of detail into them ---which has been great fun for me but has slowed everything up---...” In other correspondence Whistler referred to Mrs. Porcelli as “the old cat”. She lived in an old 18th century home at 36 Hill Street, Berkeley Square. The panels were removed from this home after World War II and later framed. One of the panels in the above Whistler letter is titled “Tracking of the Quarry.” Anything signed by Rex Whistler can be considered quite scarce as it is known that he preferred not to respond to letters and not like to speak on the telephone. Rex Whistler died on his first day of active service with the Welsh Guard in Normandy in July 1944. Trying to remove barbed wire from the wheels of his tank a mortar bomb exploded beside him. Whistler’s letter is in very fine condition.................$2,500.00   |