Complete Works of Isaac Rosenberg

by Isaac Rosenberg

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I have not seen the pearl by day but it looks gorgeous by night — it is just that iridescence — that shimmering quality I want to make the whole scheme of my picture — and that will help me tremendously — Thank you so much — I had Miss Grimshaw this afternoon and we both worked hard — She is a very good sitter — though her figure was much too scraggy for my purpose — I practically finished the drapery, and the upper part I will do from some more titanic model if I can get the type

  I forgot when you were here to ask you to put your names in the Shelley you gave me — I think a present is no present without the — I mean a book is no present without it has the names of the giver — I would appreciate it very much. I owe some of the most wonderful sensations I have ever experienced to that book — the speech by Beatrice about death — I think it is quite the most intense passage in the whole of literature — the literature I know.

  Yours sincerely

  ISAAC ROSENBERG

  1912 August

  32 Carlingford Road

  Hampstead

  Thursday

  DEAR MISS LOWY,

  Thanks for letter — I did not think your holiday was going to be over so soon, but as long as you have rested and been happy the time has done its duty. The weather here is terrible, I suppose the sun has gone somewhere for his holidays and has forgotten to leave a substitute to attend to his business, — my God — the elements are having a lark — the wind plays shuttlecock with the trees — and all the work I’ve been doing is chasing my hat through the streets — writing doleful ditties — and wondering when the deuce the rain is going to stop. I have seriously thought — knowing the wickedness of the times — (with suffragettes throwing hatchets at kings — and poets compelling people to read their poems,) that God has sent another deluge — and have been looking about for a carpenter to build me an ark. I started my picture all again and have been working day and night at it since Friday and feel very tired. It is a gorgeous scheme of rose pearl and gold — a dream picture. My landlady asked me if it was a dream — a splendid proof of the dream-like quality it has. Everything now depends on the models (if I can afford any) and the types I get for them. Fine types are so rare and when you see them circumstances make it impossible to use them. There was a girl with just the head I wanted came to our place the other day — but her father said he didn’t like the idea of her sitting — I don’t know what the man imagined I was going to do. But I think I know someone who may do — and then there are two more — one, you promised to sit for — though it seems wrong of me to ask you to waste your time so — but I don’t think it’ll take long — and perhaps I may be of use to you for small things in yours. But I can’t get anyone for my chief head Joy — I think I will leave it until I come across someone. You must buck up if you want to do anything — there is about 7 weeks I think and as soon as you get back — I should get in the big canvas and go ahead — you’ll find when you transfer your sketch down and get models that it will come. I feel mine though it looks vague now — improves with each touch — though I haven’t used models yet.

  I hope Lena is enjoying herself.

  Could you come round Monday and get over the sitting — or if you liked I could come round to you and do it, though that would be a bit awkward as I may want to paint direct on the picture. If you haven’t ordered your canvas you could do so on the way.

  Yours sincerely,

  I. ROSENBERG

  September 5, 1912

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I have been very busy on my picture and have not been able to come round. Besides, I thought I may not find you in unless I made an appointment which is rather difficult for me just now as I never know when I am to be busy or not. It is very good of you to interest yourself so — in a few weeks perhaps you will come round and see my picture — I have no more copies of my poems here — but I fancy my printer has some and I will see this week — if I get any I shall send them. Boss and Dickson came to see me a short while back and liked my picture. Ought I to have shown up their bad taste so?

  Yours sincerely

  I. ROSENBERG

  Regards to your sister

  September 16, 1912

  159 Oxford St

  Mile End E

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I was far from expecting the pleasure that awaited me when I got home last night in your letter and your sister’s poems. I read them while having supper, and, I can assure you, I have seldom enjoyed a supper more, a proof that the ordinary material facts of life can be made more pleasurable with the assistance of some intellectual garnish. They seem to me very beautiful, though I cannot quite agree with the pessimistic tone of the mirror poem. When Milton writes on his blindness, how dignified he is! how grand, how healthy! What begins in a mere physical moan, concludes in a grand triumphant spiritual expression, of more than resignation, of conquest. But I think the concluding idea very beautiful. I like the sonnets very much, an uncommon artistic expression of the artist’s common lament. But this pettifogging, mercantile, money-loving age is deaf, dead as their dead idol gold, and dead as that to all higher enobling influences.

  After seeing these, the poems, I wonder how I could ever have shown mine; still, you must understand I showed mine not so much out of vanity, as, on the contrary, out of a conciousness of their poverty, to have their defects pointed out.

  I should be much obliged for a criticism.

  Yours,

  I. ROSENBERG

  September 26, 1912

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I cannot come round either Wed or Thur — but Friday if you do not write to the contrary — I can come — about 5. My picture is under-going a transforming process, it is as it were — in the frying pan — not quite raw — nor yet quite done — I think in another week I shall be quite decided on the arrangement — then I hope it will be plain sailing. I managed to find another copy of my poems which I enclose.

  Yours sincerely

  ISAAC ROSENBERG

  1912 September

  159 Oxford St

  Mile End E.

  DEAR MISS SEATON

  I saw Miss Cook and she told me what has fired me to write this letter — that you think I don’t want to do the drawing I promised of you. Or at least she hinted so. I thought it was plain that the conditions were awkward — no convenient place to do it — but Mr Amschewitz has kindly promised to lend his studio for the purpose Sat — as he will not be in. If you cared to come there, I should be delighted to do the drawing. I don’t suppose you have aged much since I saw you although it seems ages ago; because I don’t seem to be in sympathy with old heads, I am seldom successful. You must be prepared to sit about 2 hours as I draw slowly — of course resting when you like. I wrote you a letter some time ago which perhaps you never received. I have a habit of forgetting to address my letters which often has disastrous results. When I heard about you then you were ill and had been away to the country. I hope you are allright now and dont work too hard. I am studying at the Slade, the finest school for drawing in England. I do nothing but draw — draw — You’ve heard of Professor Tonks — he’s one of the teachers. A most remarkable man. He talks wonderfully. So voluble and ready — crammed with ideas — most illuminating and suggestive — and witty. I am still keen on writing. I sent some poems to the English Review. I heard nothing for several months and then I got them back — with a letter from Austin Harrison saying he kept them so long because he liked two of them (I sent 3) very much, and he asked me to send more. I have done so this week — I have not heard yet. I have been writing some prose, I will bring with me.

  Hope you will come

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I am so sorry about not being able to fix up to come round. Monday evening I joined some classes, and Sunday I am having
a friend at my place — could we leave it to the Sunday after. Trust you find the school agrees with you again. Remember me to your sister.

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  To Laurence Binyon

  1912

  I must thank you very much for your encouraging reply to my poetical efforts... As you are kind enough to ask about myself, I am sending a sort of autobiography I wrote about a year ago... You will see from that that my circumstances have not been very favourable for artistic production; but generally I am optimistic, I suppose because I am young and do not properly realize the difficulties. I am now attending the Slade, being sent there by some wealthy Jews who are kindly interested in me, and, of course, I spend most of my time drawing. I find writing interferes with drawing a good deal, and is far more exhausting.

  c. -Oct 1912

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MRS COHEN

  I am sorry if there was any confusion about paying the Slade fees. I still have the cheque and was waiting for the other 5 shillings so as to pay it all. I thought I could pay it out of this week’s money but I have had extra expenses — mending boots and other little necessities, which made it awkward. I must thank you for returning my letter as it gives me a chance of doing that which you said ought to be done — of throwing it in the fire. I am very sorry that you noticed it as of course I did not, or I shouldn’t have sent it. I said what I had to say, and had done with it, it must have been quite an accident its smudging. I don’t think any other letters of mine are in that state. No stranger could receive such a letter of mine as I never write to strangers.

  I sent a letter before I received this asking you to see the picture. I am not at the Slade — Tuesdays Thursdays — the picture has to go in by next Monday. I suppose you will let me know.

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  Oct. 1912

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MRS COHEN

  I am very sorry I have disappointed you. If you tell me what was expected of me I shall at least have the satisfaction of knowing by how much I have erred. You were disappointed in my picture for its unfinished state — I have no wish to defend myself — or I might ask what you mean by finish: — and you are convinced I could have done better. I thank you for the compliment but I do not think it deserved — I did my best.

  You did ask me whether I had been working hard, and I was so taken back at the question that I couldn’t think what to say. If you did not think the work done sufficient evidence, what had I to say? I have no idea what you expected to see. I cannot conceive who gave you the idea that I had such big notions of myself, are you sure the people you enquired of know me, and meant me. You say people I have lately come in contact with. I have hardly seen anyone during the holidays — and I certainly have not been ashamed of my opinions, not about myself, but others — when I have; and if one does say anything in an excited unguarded moment — perhaps an expression of what one would like to be — it is distorted and interpreted as conceit — when in honesty it should be overlooked. I am not very inquisitive naturally, but I think it concerns me to know what you mean by poses and mannerisms — and whose advice do I not take who are in a position to give — and what more healthy style of work do you wish me to adopt?

  I feel very grateful for your interest in me — going to the Slade has shown possibilities — has taught me to see more accurately. — but one especial thing it has shown me — Art is not a plaything, it is blood and tears, it must grow up with one; and I believe I have begun too late.

  I suppose I go on as I am till Xmas. Till then I will look about. I should like all the money advanced on me considered as a loan — but which you must not expect back for some years as it takes some time settling down in art.

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  The Slade pictures will be on view shortly, I will let you know more if you care to see them.

  1912 October

  32 Carlingford Road

  Hampstead

  DEAR MISS LOWY,

  Thank you for sending the cards. If you see Mr Kohan will you thank him for me — I am always eager to hear Newbolt — I enjoyed his lecture on Milton very much.

  I don’t think the professor was at all fair to Bomberg. He may have been perfectly right from his point of view, but not to enter into Bomberg’s at all I don’t think was just.

  I have had a bit of a scuffle with Mrs Cohen lately. She was very disappointed at my picture and said she was sure I could have done better. I thanked her for the compliment and assured her it was quite undeserved — I did my best. She said that unless I get into a more healthy style of work she won’t help me — and many other things that showed great invention. I told her she could do what she liked — God knows what she means by a more healthy style of work. — Do you feel ill when you see my work? I know some feel people faint looking at a Michel Angelo. — How are you getting on?

  Yours sincerely

  I. ROSENBERG

  October 1912

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I forgot to mention in my last letter the result of the criticism. The ‘Nativity’ took the prize as was expected. Mine got well praised — The Pro-said it showed a hopeful future — had great charm etc but I wanted more study. I am sending a drawing and perhaps a painting to the New English as the Pro-advised me to. I am moving from here Monday so shall be busy Sunday but I shall try and be round at four. I have written other poems which I shall bring round. Trust you don’t find the weather too cold.

  Yours sincerely

  ISAAC ROSENBERG

  1912 October

  159 Oxford St

  Mile End E

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I have been very unsettled since I saw you so I could not write as I promised. I moved to Hampstead Rd and only slept there a night when I found I had to move again — on account of the train noises going on all night. I could not find another room so have gone back to my people. I have not been able to find prose things but if your friend will come to a decision I shall hunt up for them.

  My drawing was accepted and bought, but not my painting. Maclvoy told me it was liked very much, and hung half a dozen times but...

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  32 Carlingford Rd

  Hampstead

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT

  I am sorry not to have turned up Sat as I promised. Sat is a very awkward day for me and the other days I am at the Slade or the N.G.

  Yours sincerely

  I ROSENBERG

  Here is a poem I wrote.

  December 1912

  159 Oxford St

  Mile End E

  DEAR MRS COHEN

  I saw Mr Lesser today and he is going to put my case before the committee next meeting — that is, Friday a week. I told him that my reasons for applying were, firstly my reduced allowance, and that we couldn’t agree, which made my position very awkward. I told him I was very vague as to what you expected me to do, or in which way you wished me to show my appreciation of what you had done, — and that I was accused of all sorts of things, and that I was put into a state of mind which made working very difficult.

  Perhaps I was wrong in not consulting you, and I suppose if I tell you there was no time to consult you, you will think I am trying to make myself out right. The fact of the matter was, I looked about for a room and couldn’t find any. When I went home Sunday as usual, and mentioned my difficulty of sleeping, my mother made me sleep at home that night, which decided me to stay till I found a place. You can call me rude, ungentlemanly ungrateful etc — but you know it is only my honesty in not concealing what I think that leaves me open to this. You know I am not in a position to gain anything — I mean I can only be the loser by being so. Naturally I am concerned at being thought all this by people I respect, but as I, being ignorant of the existenc
e of the qualities that go to make the opposite, can’t be expected to agree with them, I certainly don’t feel conscience stricken.

  Quarreling is an unnecessary waste of energy, and the reason I broke with Mr Sherbrooke was to prevent quarreling.

  It was only when Mr Sherbrooke’s goodness became unendurable that I broke with him. When I was at Hampstead I worked all day and walked about in the rain all the evening until I was wet through and tired out — that was the only amusement I got.

  The isolation there so preyed on my spirits that I don’t think I’d be far wrong if I attributed the unfinished state of my picture to the mental and physical looseness so caused.

  I shall return the £2 you lent me for printing, out of the £4 I shall get for my drawing.

  Yours sincerely

  ISAAC ROSENBERG

  Slade School of Art

  University College, London Gower Street, W.C.

  DEAR MISS WRIGHT