Correspondence from James McBey to Marguerite McBey
SenderSent by
James McBey
(Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
RecipientAwarded to
Marguerite McBey
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1905 - 1999)
Date1948
Object NameLetter
Mediumpaper
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions26.6 x 21cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Family of James & Marguerite McBey
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG008318.13
Keywords
McBey writes how he has only received "rubbish" at the Post Office, greeting Marguerite's mother, Hortense, and asking whether or not she had received any news from Marguerite. He notes how, "with smug satisfaction, she tapped the unopened letter in her hand and said 'this is from Marguerite, I am going now to the beach and I shall open it and read it when I get there'".
He also notes how a friend of his, noticing James was holding green mulberries, stated the Spanish proverb "que la mancha de una mora, con otra verde se quita" (roughly, "what mulberry stains, another green fades"), and how that "also applies to life". The proverb is used to mean how after a relationship ends, the pain goes away when one begins a relationship with another person.
This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this letter.
