SD2598. Arthur Hughes to Ellen Heaton

Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 350.

Staines

Wednesday [20 August 1862] [1]

Dear Miss Heaton

Thanks for your letter. I did touch the other features of the face very slightly in altering the eyes, but not in any way to increase the size of the nose, or to change the mouth, indeed I did so little beside the eyes that I wonder how you can discover change[.] I am sorry too that the lady’s face still strikes you as wanting animation, and if you care will carry out my alteration still further, by turning her face more toward us and getting thereby more expression. I believe this is possible without disturbing the rest of the figure– Of course the entire head will be new.

I dont think I altered anything at all in the front of the picture about the chair[.] I made a trifling alteration in the window and with the soldier[’]s coat collar[.] This is all I did– in haste–

faithfully yrs

Arthur Hughes

Address: Miss Heaton / 125 Marylebone Road / London. N W

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Victoria and Albert Museum.

1. Dated by postmark, 21 August 1862. 20 August fell on Wednesday.

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