Gerald Kelly, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London, W.1., to Todd

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

TOD/3/5/21

Title

Gerald Kelly, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London, W.1., to Todd

Date

c. 1955

Level

Item

Extent & medium

3 pieces

Content Description

Kelly had put down the name of [Walter] Sickert's widow for a Cousins or Turner Annuity after she had been left penniless. It was a shame not to help the widow of so good a painter, even though he did resign "rather scurvily." Several members of Council did not like Sickert's work, and could not forgive his resignation. As there were many applicants, Kelly wanted as many names in support of her as possible, and he asks Middleton Todd to back her application. The letter encloses Middleton Todd's draft reply to Kelly, expressing the greatest admiration for Sickert's work, and a draft letter to [Walter] Lamb asking to support Mrs Sickert's application.