by Henry James
Ever with love, your affectionate
Ariana
NOTES
1. At Palazzo Barberini in Rome.
2. Antoine Auguste Ernest Hébert (1817–1908), a painter and for many years the director of the French Academy in Rome, Villa Medici (1867–1873, 1885–1891).
V
Ariana Curtis to Mary Curtis
June 6th and 7th [1887]
(Marciana Ms.)
Venice, Palazzo Barbaro
My dear Mary –
Thanks for your last—telling of the new doctor, and your change of plan—or rather reverting to your original one of remaining in Colorado […] The E.J. Potters have been here—now leaving for Tirol and Salzkammergut. Dear Mrs. P[otter] is sweet as ever—but terribly tired and careworn. No maid, no governess—and tyrannical children. I got her an Italian girl to come by the day, and relieve her a little—and I have exhorted her to get a governess. “Mr. Potter does not like them”. The elder girl is an imperious beauty—the little one, Dolly, a very strange child. They have brought her here several times, to be left alone in our Sala, where she talks to herself and recites, and dreams aloud—that she is a Princess, etc. I should not encourage such things if she were my child—but they think it is very interesting. I do not go into the room—they asked me not to—or rather asked me to let her come when I was out. Edward has given up singing—says his children won’t let him! However last night, at my swarry1, he was persuaded to, Mlle de Gerstfeld(?) playing the accompaniment—unluckily the Mocenigo family arrived in the midst, and rather spoiled his effect. (D. calls them Moce and other nigauds!) I believe Daniel wrote about the wedding of the screaming beauty, Annina Rombo2, at 9 a.m.! At one time, I thought perhaps she was the coming girl for us—but Ralph did not incline—and it is just as well—for she is, and always will be, surrounded by admirers—which I fancy he would not like in a wife. I begin to think he will not marry—and much regret it3. I shall encourage his going over to America soon, in hopes he may see some nice girl there. Not a word of any of this, however […] We have had Mr. Symonds here—he is so nice—he is very fond of our garden. Now he has to go back to his prison at Davos—he cannot stay more than a month out of that thin dry air—else he would die—it is a wonder he lives at all. Write how you are feeling and what the Summer climate is.
Ever with love
your
Ariana
NOTES
1. “Soirée”, spelt so.
2. Annina Rombo Morosini, a celebrated beauty of the time. In a letter from Bayreuth to Isabella Stewart Gardner, July 23 (1889?), Ralph Curtis wrote that he had painted a portrait of “the exquisite Morosini”, “in her loge at the Fenice”.
3. Ralph did eventually marry an American on November 3, 1898: the bride was Lisa Colt Rotch (1871–1933), a beautiful young widow and heiress. Of this wedding Henry James wrote to Francis Boott: “Ralph Curtis has just taken to his side a bonnie bride with a nice dead husband and many, I believe, nice living hundreds of thousands” (July 9th 1897). In spite of the fact that Lisa Colt Rotch was in fact a heiress, it was surely a love marriage, as the letters of Ralph Curtis to Bernard Berenson about Lisa clearly show. Lisa’s portrait was painted by John Singer Sargent (see letter XXVI) and by Ralph Curtis. See Rosella Mamoli Zorzi, entries for Ralph Curtis, in the catalogue Venezia. Da Stato a Mito, Fondazione Cini, Venice, 1997.
VI
Ralph Curtis to Isabella Stewart Gardner
September 18th [1889]
(I.S.G.M. Ms)
Venice, Palazzo Barbaro
My dear Mrs. Gardner,
it was quite sweet in you to write me on my birthday. After hearing the Wagner I wrote you of, I saw the Dresden gallery and then went to Marienbad where I had some great sport deer shooting with the Metternichs whose vast estates are close by. The Moores1 and a lot of my friends were taking the cure there and I passed three most enjoyable weeks. The music was excellent, climate lovely and the walks well adapted for my complaint. I have been back 3 weeks. We have had the Horatios2 here, and there are the usual number of agreeable people. Frank Schuster the great London Wagnerian has taken the Wolkoffs next Dario3 charming house all furnished most artistically for 6 weeks—and has it filled with musical lights and pretty people. Mrs. Bronson has bought a little scrap of a house4 at Asolo to please Mr. Browning who is now there with them. We miss them awfully. The Rezzonico is full of “Pen’s” friends and his wife’s of course! I have no very recent news of Sargent. The Moores sailed yesterday for N. Y. to pass 8 weeks to attend to some money they have recently come into. Unless Spain5 carries the day, I shall make a visit this winter, but as I have cried “Wolf. Wolf.” so often, of course you won’t believe me. Perhaps you are right. My people were never better and join me in the kindest of our regards to you both. Sorry “the orchid’s”6 skin is bad—perhaps that could be remedied by and by! She will be a splendid creature when she is 30 and has had twins. There is a regatta at Murano and from the top of the house I can see the glassy lagoons already speckled with gondolas, so I must hie me there, wishing I had your comely self beside me and could hear your musical mellow voice so suited to confidences by moonlight in Venezia. Such a pity you are wasted out there my dear friend.
Goodbye, ever your affect[ionate]—and cheerful cynic
Ralph Curtis
Did you ever read the fearfully immoral but deeply interesting memoirs of Casanova—of Venice and Europe 150 years ago? 8 vols. But you must get some gnome to buy them for you and then hide them away from eyes and ears of Boston Grandies. Do you know how to make a Venetian blind? You stick your finger in his eye!
NOTES
1. Clara Sophia Jessup Moore (1824–1899) had married Mr. Moore from Philadelphia in 1842. After the death of her husband she moved to England, where she was known for her philanthropic work. She had two daughters, Mary and Ella, of Ralph’s age.
2. Horatio F. Brown (1854–1926) and his mother. The English historian lived in Venice for many years, and wrote important books on the history of Venice.
3. Both palaces are on the Grand Canal, near the Salute church.
4. “La Mura”, not so small, still the property of Mrs. Bronson’s heirs. Mrs. Bronson bought the Asolo house because she had so liked Browning’s Pippa Passes, set in Asolo.
5. Ralph Curtis painted several “Spanish” subjects: among them Cigarreras Sevillanas which was exhibited at the Venice National Exhibition of 1887.
6. Ralph is referring to Margaret Leiter, a friend of Isabella Stewart Gardner, described as “the pretty orchid” in a letter from Bayreuth (July 23). See also letter VII.
VII
Ralph Curtis to Isabella Stewart Gardner
November 20th [1888]
(I.S.G.M. Ms.)
Venice, Palazzo Barbaro
My dear Mrs. Gardner,
mea culpa! I have left your letter unanswered for ages. Mea culpa. Do you want a charming apartment1, next door to Mrs. Bronson in that nice house of the Dutch consul? Your bedroom would be Desdemona’s balcony room. You would also have another salon and bedroom on the Grand Canal—charming dining room and guests’ room on a very picturesque court and garden—lots of servants’ rooms and excellent kitchen. All is in perfect order. 3500 francs a year is asked. The Cyril Flowers (she née Rothschild) nearly took it but his health requires Scotland during vacation. What fun if you should take it, and when you can’t come let it to brides and “grooms”on condition that they marry for love.
There will be time for you to answer this here before I go to Florence after Christmas. Then I think of Naples and Palermo, which I don’t know. In April I shall take a P. & O. to London stopping over 10 days or so at Seville for the Féria and Old Lang Syne. The spring I shall pass as usual at Paris les Bains. I have not had any news from the MacD.s2 for ages. They owe me letters, but I owe them so much more! I see Perry Belmont is to replace the excellent Currie. Mrs. Harrison is much improved in health and Peto3 is to build them a grand house near Henley. John Sargent
is in London. He too owes me a letter so I can’t give any recent news.
Mrs. George Batten4 fascinated all the men here during 2 months. Mrs. Moore is now passing a week at the Stanleys’ house in London. They are coming to Italy in Jan[uar]y. I went to see them at Ischl after she had done her Marienbad cure. It is a lovely place and I enjoyed my tour in the Tyrol immensely. She is said to have never looked better than now, so taking care of herself all summer was a success.
I am an uncle! Osborne’s wife had a baby boy5 the other day. Laurence will tell you all about his visit to their county and his experiences. Edith Bronson enjoyed her summer in USA and looks much improved by it. Poor Mrs. B[ronson] I don’t think looks very well in spite of (yet perhaps because of) the 10 weeks of visit of R. Browning and his sister to their tiny house, which she thinks must be filled day and night with people to make the lion roar. By the way you are sure to know Miss Amelie Reeves6, as was, so tell her that Browning after hearing the fuss over her “Quick or the Dead” read it, saw nothing improper in it, except some very bad English here and there, and found it “very strong and original, especially the scene with the parson—a touch of genius in that story and a great promise for the future. I should like to have passed the A.M. in going over the MMS. and changing the few things which would have made it truly a remarkable piece of work”. It would be kind to let her know of his applause, so please do so. The Howes are still here, buoyant as ever. They go soon to Rome. I have been staying with the Morosinis, Rombos, Pisanis and Marcellos at the villas, which are far more civilized than I had supposed and their society is queer and amusing to study. Lawn tennis has just reached them—and some drive 4 in hands and all have 5 o’clock teas and bonbons from Boissière—“Juge un peu” as they say in Marseilles. A French governess read out the story of Susanna and the Elders to the Contessina Amalia aged 15—“Voilà, Mademoiselle, une conduite digne d’éloges.” Amalia after a moment’s reflection “Oui, mais elle aurait peut être aussi bien fait d’en prendre le moins vieux”! Where is Miss Leiter and have you had the Spanish Cotillon7 yet? I shan’t be able to get to America till … till … next year.
Can’t you run over to see the Paris Exp[osition] if there is no war. I am going to Bayreuth if they give Tristan. With kindest regards to Mr. Gardner and regrets that they would let me do the Carpaccios (so I owe you several francs) I remain dear Mrs. Gardner your ever affectionate friend
Ralph Curtis
Henry James driven to death by the printer’s devil (what a pity he knows no other) has returned to London via Paris. He is to stay at the Barbaro again in April.
I have been twice to stir up Carrer about your piece of furniture. The carving and joining is nearly done and very satisfact[or]y indeed.
NOTES
1. The Gothic Palazzetto Contarini Fasan, called “Desdemona’s House”, on the Grand Canal, across from the Salute church.
2. Perhaps the McDoughals, friends of the Curtises.
3. Harold Peto, the English architect. He was the son of Sir Samuel Morton Peto. Born in 1854, went to Harrow and studied architecture. After working with the architectural firm of Ernest George until 1892 in England, he worked on his own on the continent and designed three villas in the Italian Renaissance style, on the Côte d’Azur between 1902 and 1910. One of the villas was Ralph Curtis’s Villa Sylvia. On these villas see Graeme Moore, “Renaissance d’Azur”, in Country Life, July 7, 1988, pp.156–158 (with photos). Ralph Curtis described to Isabella Stewart Gardner the interior of the villa, which had a loggia and a wonderful garden: “The dining room is white wood and Chippendale. The big sala ivory white and chestnut doors and wainscoating (sic) and a cinquecento black fireplace from Viterbo, very big”.
4. Née Mabel Hatch. Sargent painted her portrait.
5. Henry Osborne Curtis (1888–1964), the son of Osborne, Ralph’s younger brother.
6. Amélie Rives (not Reeves) (1863–1945), later known as Princess Troubetzkoy, published the novel The Quick or the Dead? in Lippincott Magazine in 1888. It told the story of a young widow’s love for her dead husband’s cousin, who looked very much like the husband, and her giving up her love. The novel was a great success and caused some turmoil because the descriptions of the relationships between the two characters were considered too realistic and risqué.
7. Spanish cotillons were described by Ralph as follows: “These cotillons favours are embroidered in silk, gold, and silver by the ladies, ‘God bless them’, of Seville, and the day before the fight are paraded through the streets with a band of Estudiantina guitars, and are pinned onto a huge cross!” (Letter to Isabella Stewart Gardner).
VIII
Ralph Curtis to Isabella Stewart Gardner
May 25th [1896]
(I.S.G.M.Ts.)
Venice, Palazzo Barbaro
Dear Queen Isabella –
I got your word “BUYVO”1—so I took “vo” to mean that you would also like a most splendid piviale2 which Richetti also had—crimson velvet on a cream fond—like the small piece you so admired in our red room, on the door to the left of the little Flemish Madonna. I beat Satan down to letting you have the fire dogs and this textile gem for 2000 lire—1600 lire for the fire irons3—400 for the piviale, which you can send him a cheque for at your convenience. I can safely assure you that they are both admirable acquisitions.
My people’s Indian guests have just gone. The Rodds4 arrive anon to stay with us. Lady Kenmare5 is here and hosts and hosts of USAers are in all the hotels. Bode6 of Berlin Museum—Yriarte7—the Monacos—Lady Airlie—Sybil Sanderson (who had all her jewels stolen on the train from her trunks)—Mrs. Gilder—the Tom Perrys8—Wa(l)ter Gays9—Frank Lathrop10 the painter—Marcuard11 the Florence connaisseur, are among the fine flowers which bloom tra-la-la. Nevertheless I am off soon to Paris, having about finished my big picture, which has turned out really quite good. I am waiting for gold coins from our copper.
Do write me a good letter, and another when these things reach you—and with most cordial alibayons to you both—I remain
ever your affec[tionate]ly
“Redman” gnome.
P.S. Pen is made a cavaliere del Regno. Lady Hally has been presented by England with a house at Asolo! H.R.H handed her the deed with a merry Xmas! Pen furious!!
NOTES
1. Isabella Stewart Gardner would telegraph with a code system her approval or refusal to her various art providers, among whom, as is well known, the most important was Bernard Berenson.
2. “Piviale”, i.e. pluvial (ceremonial vestment).
3. “In the tapestry room” is added on the side.
4. Sir James Rennell Rodd (1858–1941), diplomatist, poet, and author of Social and Diplomatic Memories 1884–1893. A friend of Ralph Curtis, he spent his honeymoon in Venice, staying at Palazzo Barbaro (1895). He was ambassador in Rome in 1891– 92, where he saw ecclesiastics, artists, and such intellectuals as J. A. Symonds, G. Boni, the excavator of the Forum, Axel Muenthe, Paul Bourget, Count Primoli. He was also a friend of the Storys.
5. Gertrude-Harriet Thynne (1840–1913) had married Valentine Augustus (Browne) Lord Kenmare (1825–1903), of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1858. Lady Kenmare was a very close friend of Ariana, and spent some time every year in Palazzo Barbaro. On the two ladies’ friendship see Henry James, Letters to Miss Allen, cit.
6. Wilhelm von Bode, the Director of the Karl-Friedrich Museum in Berlin, and the author of Mein Leben (reprinted by Nicholaische Verlag in 1997, in two volumes).
7. Charles Yriarte (1833–1898), writer and director of the Monde illustré. He wrote several works concerning Italy, among which Venise (1877), Veronese (1888), Fortuny (1886), La vie d’un patricien de Venise (1874).
8. Thomas Sargent Perry (1845–1928), American author and scholar, taught at Harvard, and married the painter Lila Cabot in 1874. He was a friend of Henry James who wrote about him in Notes of a Son and Brother.
9. Walter Gay (1856–1937), an American painter. His pictures of inter
iors represent halls and rooms strictly without people.
10. Francis Lathrop (1849–1909), an American painter who studied in London.
11. Friedrich von Marcuard (1845–1917), the Swiss painter, art historian and collector, the author of Die Zeichnungen Michelangelos (1901). He lived in Florence from 1871 onwards.
IX
Ralph Curtis to Isabella Stewart Gardner
20th May 1911
(I.S.G.M. Ms.)
Venice, Palazzo Barbaro
My dear Queen –
Why do you never send me anything but a post card in 6 months? I came here from Villa Sylvia 10 days ago, and now go to Paris to help feather our nest there, 40 ave[nue] Trocadero (pin that to your hat). I am so sorry to have just missed Laura Wagnière who was a fortnight with mama. The Campanile grows1—the place is full—and today there is a grand scheme to have a sub-mud electric tram to the Lido!!! Mama, except for stiff knees, is very fit, and is agog to go as near as she can to the Coronation2. Sargent has just been to Paris to see the Ingres show. I hear Gay’s picture of the “Barbarian’s Palace”3 is to go to the Boston Museum. I wish I had time to go to stay with B.B.4 who is giving brain banquets at “I Tatti”. Mrs. Mary is still at Oxford, after the death of her mother, who talks affec[tionate]ly of you. I am so glad he is better. What of your plan of coming abroad? There is lots to see, hear and feel, but precious little to buy, unless one is from Pittsburg, and a damn fool, too. I expect to read of you in the grand stand waving a banner at the internat[ional] polo match. Nevertheless I persist in remaining your affec[ionate]