Documents and letters

The Clark owns eleven letters Winslow Homer wrote to patrons or dealers of his works, as well as one letter to dealer M. Knoedler & Co. from the original owner of Undertow. Their texts reveal Homer’s pragmatism and, on occasion, a sly humor. All of the letters in the collection are listed below.

Letter from Winslow Homer to Sylvester Rosa Koehler, 30 Jun. 1886

Gift of David Tatham and Cleota Reed, 2011

June 30th, 1886
Scarboro
Maine

Dear Sir

I received in perfect order the proof of the etching. If not too much trouble I will ask you to have sent me a rough proof on which I may make some remarks for Mr Smillie, it could be folded in a letter sent by mail.

Yours very truly
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, January 14, 1889

Scarboro                                
Maine Jan 14th ’89

Mr Edward Adams

Dear Sir

My brother informs me that you have expressed a wish to have my picture (Undertow) on your wall in order that you may consider its merits with a view of making me an offer.

In complying with your wish I beg to say that you have my permission to keep this picture on your wall as long as you find it agreeable within a years limit

In regard to your making me an offer for it, I can state to you now that my price is $3,000, less whatever commission I should have had to pay to any dealers had they sold it. Its first exhibition was in Boston & they would have charged 20 percent that would make it net me $2400 and never will I take any less

There is no hurry, look at this a month or two before you conclude

And remember that I much prefer that this should be in your house for the winter than in my studio

If you will direct Mr Thos A. Wilmurt 54 East 13th St when to send the Picture

It will be at your order by Wednesday. The case leaves here this afternoon

Yours Respectfully
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, July 16, 1889

Scarboro                                
Maine Jan 14th ’89

Mr Edward Adams

Dear Sir

My brother informs me that you have expressed a wish to have my picture (Undertow) on your wall in order that you may consider its merits with a view of making me an offer.

In complying with your wish I beg to say that you have my permission to keep this picture on your wall as long as you find it agreeable within a years limit

In regard to your making me an offer for it, I can state to you now that my price is $3,000, less whatever commission I should have had to pay to any dealers had they sold it. Its first exhibition was in Boston & they would have charged 20 percent that would make it net me $2400 and never will I take any less

There is no hurry, look at this a month or two before you conclude

And remember that I much prefer that this should be in your house for the winter than in my studio

If you will direct Mr Thos A. Wilmurt 54 East 13th St when to send the Picture

It will be at your order by Wednesday. The case leaves here this afternoon

Yours Respectfully
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to Edward D. Adams, May 12, 1900

Scarboro Maine
May 12­­__1900

Mr E. D Adams

My dear Sir—

It is only recently that it has been warm enough to move about here—but now I am happy to say that I have hunted up these different studies of the subject of the painting—“Undertow” that I promised to give to you—

I take pleasure in sending these things to you—They will amuse you much—

Yours very truly
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., March 29, 1901

March 29 1901                      
Scarboro Me

M Knoedler & Co

Gentlemen—

Please send me the three mats (5 inch mats) directly they are finished

Yours truly
Winslow Homer

P.S. That picture of the “Eastern Point” now at the American Society Ex—is too good not to be sold for some price—If I am wrong in putting it too high you must let me know & although I did not put it in the exhibition for sale —If you hear that anyone wishes it you can arrange to pay the Society their commission & between you & myself decide a fair price.

Yours—
W.H.

P.S. March 29, 1901 19 x 9 1/2 size of paper to be covered by mat One more frame & mat to be put with the three mats to be sent to me.
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., March 22, 1902

March 22nd, 1902               

M Knoedler & Co

Gentlemen—

In reply to your favor of the 20th I will say that in view of my having made a contract to build a stable & the fact that for some reason that picture of the “Eastern Point” has been out so long—I will put the cash price to you for your trade at $1000.

If you fail to make a go of it—I will ask you to kindly pack it up & send it to me.

In regard to the painting “The Breakers”—I never gave that title to a picture—& in 1896 the date in which you say it was painted. I only painted two pictures in that year & they were not of that description.

If it is a winter scene & painted in 1894 & called “High Seas” I know all about it

Yours very truly
Winslow Homer

If it is not a winter scene, it’s a fraud & a swindle.

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., May 5, 1904

Scarboro Me
May 5th 1904  

Gentlemen—

I regret the long delay in sending the painting to fill that frame

It has been so cold & wet here that paint would not dry—& I had all I could do to keep alive—

I now send you by American Express the Painting—“Summer Squall ” (Net me $700.) 

(I should prefer that you should not charge more than $1000. for it)

I also with this send the three watercolors for the three new frames I ordered made—

Title of W C

            “Lizzie”
“Weighing Anchor”
            “Market Boat”

I think if you put “Lizzie” in your window it would be a good idea

Thanking you for the very kind attention I rec’d when in New York

Yours Very Truly
Winslow Homer

I am very well again

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., September 30, 1904

Sept 30th              

Gentlemen

I told Mr Beatty that he could have that picture “Summer Squall” thinking that it was in your Gallery or store If it is possible let him have it—That is the only thing that there is new—& all there is for him—I have nothing here although I am now painting on two pictures

Yours Resp’y
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., October 5, 1904

Oct 5th 1904                           

Gentlemen

I am in receipt of your favor & will say go ahead & send that picture “Summer Squall” to Mr John W Beatty Carnegie Institute & give the name of the owner on your invoice to him

Yours Truly
Winslow Homer

P.S. I am painting two oil pictures, one of which is quite an affair.

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., October 8, 1904

Oct 8th, 1904                          

Gentlemen

Please send this enclosed invoice to John W. Beatty Carnegie Institute Pittsburgh Pa—after having written the name of the owner of this painting “Summer Squall” on one of the enclosed cards

Yours resp’y
Winslow Homer

Letter from Winslow Homer to M. Knoedler & Co., November 19, 1908

November 19th 1908               

M Knoedler & Co

Gentlemen

Look here—! In due time you will receive something from me for this season—I do not require any more letters from you at present—In regard to your present letter of another article on my work—I should say that the photographs which you have are played out as [sic] as Magazine illustrations

Many a thing has passed though your hands that would have been very beautiful in an article for illustration take the “Diamond Shoal Light Ship” or “The Eagles Nest”—

Winslow Homer
Rsp Yours—

P.S—
I am extremely grateful to you for your attention & I will do the very best I can for you always
Very Truly Yours—W.H

Letter from Edward D. Adams to M. Knoedler & Co., March 16, 1925

March 16th, 1925
Messrs. M. Knoedler & Company
14 East 57th Street
New York City

Gentlemen:

Referring to the oil painting “Undertow,” by Winslow Homer, which you sold for me last year, I send herewith the original sketches made by Mr. Homer, when designing the picture. Also herewith his letter of May 12, 1900, transmitting the pictures.

It seems to me that these should properly go with the picture. Judging other people by myself, the owner would naturally be pleased to receive them, and I now place them in your hands for transmission to him.

Sincerely yours
Edward D. Adams
Enc.