Correspondence from James McBey to Marguerite McBey
SenderSent by
James McBey
(Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
RecipientAwarded to
Marguerite McBey
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1905 - 1999)
Date1934
Object NameLetter
Mediumpaper
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions29.1 x 23cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Family of James & Marguerite McBey
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG008318.71
Keywords
He discusses how at the weekend he worked on a portrait, and how he and Hortense - Marguerite's mother - visited the Coronet Cinema in Notting Hill Gate, London, and viewed "Man of Aran" (1934), which McBey seemed to largely enjoy. He also attended the Russian Ballet with a man named Valyi, "reluctantly" wearing a dinner jacket. Over the course of the evening, "3 elderly virgins immediately in front of [McBey and Valyi were] gradually changing to the colour of the L-Z section of the phone directory", apparently spurred by Valyi's conversation. He describes drinking during the interval, and an expensive bill.
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.
