Fredrk. Brown, Ormond House, Richmond, Surrey, to George [Clausen]

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

CL/1/15

Title

Fredrk. Brown, Ormond House, Richmond, Surrey, to George [Clausen]

Date

7 May 1940

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Content Description

He went to the National Gallery and saw his landscape, painted in Chepstow in 1905, he was glad to notice no influence from Steer, it put him in mind of the time he and Clausen worked together in St. Albans. He was too tired to take in much at the Academy, but liked two works by Elwes; Connard has told him that John's work has deteriorated. He saw three "dirty smudges" by Sickert, and thinks the Academy well rid of him and Spencer. He thinks that Llewellyn abandoned the "true purpose" of the Academy by heeding cliques and ignoring traditional drawing. He mentions that "R" and Connard proposed Spencer, although the latter now regrets it. He is glad they have escpaded the "disaster" of electing Epstein. He discusses the merits of Dora Gordine and her bust of him, then talks about his self-portrait. He is pleased about Miss Walker's election and thinks her work will end up in the National Gallery, finishing by asking why Cézanne is there, even temporarily.