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The image displays a sketch on a piece of stationery depicting the upper part of a person's body. The person's head and shoulders are depicted, facing slightly to the right. Their facial features are delicately drawn with a gentle expression. The hair is loosely styled and voluminous. The person is wearing a jacket and shirt. The background is plain, with text and a letterhead stating "IRIS COURT PANGBOURNE BERKSHIRE" on the top left and "TELEPHONE, 94 PANGBOURNE." on the top right. Below the letterhead, there is a handwritten note in cursive with an emblem or monogram "KJ" in a small red box. The text continues onto the page, ending with the signature "Mortimer Menpes." The page has a yellowed tone.
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The image displays a sketch on a piece of stationery depicting the upper part of a person's body. The person's head and shoulders are depicted, facing slightly to the right. Their facial features are delicately drawn with a gentle expression. The hair is loosely styled and voluminous. The person is wearing a jacket and shirt. The background is plain, with text and a letterhead stating "IRIS COURT PANGBOURNE BERKSHIRE" on the top left and "TELEPHONE, 94 PANGBOURNE." on the top right. Below the letterhead, there is a handwritten note in cursive with an emblem or monogram "KJ" in a small red box. The text continues onto the page, ending with the signature "Mortimer Menpes." The page has a yellowed tone.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

A Letter From Iris Court with a Portrait of John L. Toole

Mortimer Menpes

Medium
graphite with watercolor on wove paper [Iris Court letterhead]
Dimensions
sheet: 22.8 x 17.7 cm (9 x 6 15/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
2009.70.166
Credit line
Joseph F. McCrindle Collection
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CG-E
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • inscription
  • calligraphic
  • Portrait
  • Face
  • Man
Provenance

(Brian Sewell, London, by 1980); Joseph F. McCrindle [1923-2008], New York, 1980; Joseph F. McCrindle Foundation, 2008; gift to NGA, 2009.

Inscription

by artist, center left in pen and black ink: Dear IKJ [or KJ] (in monogram) / Your letter was far too / flattering. You are / an amazing sympathetic / listener. Someday I / hope to have the privilege / of meeting you again. / Yours ever sincerely / Mortimer Menpes; by artist, center right in pen and black ink: J. Toole / M.M.

Watermarks

WHS / Emissary Bond

NGA object ID 143681. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.