Illustrated Letters from the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art
Howard Finster to Barbara Shissler, 1981.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 25.4 x 20.2 cm
Howard Finster papers, 1932 - 1987.
Visionary artist and Baptist preacher Reverend Howard Finster wrote to curator Barbara Shissler about a trip to Washington, D.C., for the opening of an exhibition Shissler had organized at what is now the Smtihsonian American Art Museum.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27.8 x 21.6 cm
Macbeth Gallery records, 1838 - 1964.
California painter Maynard Dixon was known for his western subjects—cowboys and Indians—which he painted with depth and dignity. Dixon sketched himself as a cowboy-artist on horseback, painting the western plains.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 21.6 x 14 cm Allen Tupper True and True family papers, 1841 - 1987.
In a letter to his daughter, painter and illustrator Allen Tupper True embellished his hotel stationery to express his awe of New York city's skyscrapers. He included himself as a speck on the street.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 28 x 21.5 cm Paul Bransom Papers, 1862 - 1983.
Paul Bransom portrayed himself fixated on a photograph of his sweetheart. A year later, Bransom married Grace and sold five covers to "The Saturday Evening Post," launching his career as a freelance illustrator.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27.9 x 21.4 cm Aline and Eero Saarinen papers, 1857 - 1972.
Finnish-born architect Eero Saarinen often illustrated letters to his second wife, an art editor and later critic at "The New York Times." the Michigan Music School, sketched here in plan and elevation, was finished in 1964.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27 x 21.5 cm Waldo Peirce letters, 1943.
This is one in a series of letters from painter and watercolorist Waldo Peirce to a Women's Auxiliary Army Corps captain stationed in Louisiana during World War II. Peirce, who married four times, divided his affections among three women, each shown happily eating a piece of his heart.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 29.7 x 21.5 cm Moses Soyer papers, 1920 - 1974 and undated.
Moses Soyer sent what he called a "puzzle picture" to his son, who was away at summer camp. In a watercolor vignette, he pictures the family dog and cat and baseball great Dizzy Dean. The baseball glove was shown flying from his home in New York to his son's bunk at Camp Quannacut.
William Cushing Loring to his parents, 14 July 1901.
Letter; handwriten, ill.; 21 x 14 cm William Cushing Loring papers, 1899 - 1961.
In this letter to his parents, painter William Cushing Loring describes his neighborhood in Paris and the 72-hour Bastille Day celebration that was taking place there in July 1901.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 28.1 x 21.4 cm Rutherford Boyd papers, 1900 - 83.
The spectacular view that unfolds is from Rutherford Boyd's New York studio on the top floor on East 23rd Street, an area populated with artists at the time. Exacting illustrations such as this earned Boyd a strong reputation.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27.9 x 21.5 cm Julian E. Levi papers, 1846 - 1981.
Muralist and illustrator Ione Robinson spent several months in Florida with her young daughter. Robinson included sketches of seashells and seagulls as well as images of herself and her daughter, relaxing at the beach in their bathing suits.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27.8 x 21.5 cm Leon Kroll papers, 1916 - 1976.
In this note from sculptor Paul Manship to painter Leon Kroll, the sculptor recommends a model, Miss Miriam McCreedy, and sketches her voluptuous figure.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 19.7 x 14.5 cm Emmy Lou Packard papers, ca. 1900 - 1990.
Frida Kahlo, writing from New York, thanked her friend for taking care of Kahlo's former husband, Diego Rivera. Kahlo signed her letter with red lipstick kisses- one for Emmy Lou, one for Diego, and one for Emmy Lou's son, Donald. Kahlo and Rivera later remarried.
Edith Schloss to Philip Pearlstein, 25 March 1981.
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 21.5 x 15.7 cm Philip Pearlstein papers, 1949 - 1996.
Painter and writer Edith Schloss wrote to painter Philip Pearlstein and others thanking them for their help during her stay in the United States. Pearlstein had donated his papers to the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art, and Edith followed suit.
Gladys Nilsson to Mimi Gross and Red Grooms [postmarked 25 April 1969].
Letter; handwritten, ill.; 27 x 19 cm Mimi Gross papers, 1960 - 1981.
Painter Gladys Nilsson used United Airlines stationary to send a thank you note from the "friendly skies" to fellow artists Mimi Gross and Red Grooms. Nilsson connected her collage of smiling faces with a message cloud, expressing her thanks.
