Composition

Wapping, Library of Congress

Wapping, National Gallery of Art

This is an early sketch for the composition of Wapping [YMSM 035]. It was drawn in a letter, and the hand-writing overlaps and shows through the drawing. The relevant part of the letter starts:

'... je voudrais t'avoir ici devant un tableau sur lequel je compte bigrement et qui doit devenir un chef d'oeuvre - voici à peu pres ce que c'est. [drawing] … je tacherai de te l'expliquer - D'abord on est dans un balcon au premier etage, donant en plein sur la Tamise. Il y a trois personnes - un vieux en chemise blanche celui du milieu qui regarde par la fenetre - puis à droite dans le coin, un matelot en casquette et en chemise bleu à grand col rabattu d'un bleu plus clair, qui cause avec une fille bigrement difficile a peindre! … Maintenant par la fenetre on voit toute la Tamise! Le fond qui est comme une eau forte - et qui etait difficile à ne pas y croire!' 1

[Translation:] '… I would like you to be here in front of a picture which I am quite certain must become a masterpiece - here is more or less what it is like. [drawing] ... I will try to explain it - Firstly it is on a balcony right above the Thames. There are three people - an old man in a white shirt the one in the middle who is looking out of the window - then on the right in the corner, a sailor in a cap and a blue shirt with a big collar turned back in a lighter blue, who is chatting to a girl who is really difficult to paint! … Now through the window you can see the whole Thames! The background is like an etching - and was unbelievably difficult!'

Technique

The letter is written on all four sides of a folded sheet, the drawing being on the first side. The ink lines are bold and scratchy, and have blotted.