Burne-Jones (Edward Coley, 1833-1898). British Artist and Designer. Autograph letter initialled, 'EBJ', The Grange, 49 North End Road, West Kensington, circa 1870, to an unidentified recipient and thanking them for their help the previous evening, hoping they might come and see him and wondering when, 'Tomorrow would be nice - but at 4 1/2 [4.30] I take Frances & Violet [on] a little expedition to Hammersmith - but if you could come at 3 we could chat...', slight toning to first page, two pages with blank integral leaf, 8vo Frances and Violet are presumably Frances Graham, later Lady Horner (1854-1940) and her friend Violet Lindsay, later Duchess of Rutland (1856-1937). Burne-Jones became besotted with Frances and painted her likeness in several works. She was included in The Golden Stairs in 1880, carrying cymbals at the bottom of the stairs. Violet was a talented artist herself and took advice from Burne-Jones. Both Frances and Violet were members of The Souls, an elite social and intellectual group formed in 1885.
My Dear / How nice you were to / me, coming to my help last / evening - the fun is a / great deal out of me at / present & a jest dies / on my tongue as I am / saying it. / Will you come & see / me - ? & when. / Tomorrow would be / nice - but at 4 1/2 I take / Frances & Violet a / little expedition / to Hammersmith - but / if you could come at 3. / we could chat - or / Saturday afternoon there / is at any time - I / want to see you. & chat / ? ? always / Youraffc. ancient / EB-J.
