12 April 1888
My dear Clark,
I had the pleasure
this afternoon of reading your letter on "Art Culture
in Tasmania" in this week's issue of 'Society'
together with an editorial notice of it in another column
of the paper and return you my sincere thanks for the kind
feeling which prompted you in writing so warmly on my behalf.
Without wishing to unduly take credit to myself I can conscientiously
say that in all my endeavour to win honour in the world
of Art I have never forgotten the 'light little Island'
that I am proud to call my native land, and trust that in
days to come - if life and health are granted me - with
God's help to still do something more worthy of her - Thank
you, again, for all you have so kindly said and written
- The Editor, whom I saw today, told me that he would at
once post a copy of 'Society' to your address but
I will make doubly sure by sending one also.
I am now at
work upon the sketches of Tasmanian scenery for the Melbourne
'Centennial' and shall stick to them until they are finished.
They will be sketches in oils, but mounted in the
same manner as watercolour, a method much adopted now among
artists. I decided to adopt the former in preference to
the latter in order that I might make them as large as possible,
remembering that they will be exhibited in a court
and not in a drawing room. The limited time at my command
would not permit of me putting work enough in them, if in
watercolour, to ensure strength.
Will you kindly
mention this to Mr Braddon, and also ask him if he wishes
me to get them framed here - All that they will require
will be a plain half-round moulding. Hood or any picture
frame maker however, could soon do this work in Hobart -
if you decide to have it done there -
with kind regards
yours sincerely
W. Piguenit