Nettleship & John family letters,

Some forty-two letters, 1899-1980, from, or addressed to, members of the Nettleship and John families, including correspondence relating to the deaths of John Trivett Nettleship, 1902, and of his daughter, Ida John, 1907, and to Augustus John and his estate, 1972-1980; together with one letter, [1904], from Gwen John to Dorelia McNeill, five letters, 1924-1961, to Augustus John from various correspondents, and recollections of Ida John by Edna Clarke Hall, 1974.

Gwendolen Mary John (Gwen John) (1876-1939), artist, was born at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. She was the sister of the artist Augustus John (1878-1961). Between 1895 and 1898, she was a pupil at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, alongside her brother. During her time at the school she befriended other female artists, including Ursula Tyrwhitt, and Ida Nettleship, who later married Augustus John. She studied in Paris at the Academie Carmen in 1898, before moving back to England, living in London until 1904, when she returned to France with her friend Dorothy 'Dorelia' McNeill. She moved back to Paris and remained in France for most of the rest of her life. The majority of her paintings were of women or girls, and her work was exhibited in Paris, London and New York. During her time in Paris she met the sculptor Auguste Rodin, and in 1910, the American art collector John Quinn became a patron of her work. Gwen John died in Dieppe, France, in 1939. Edwin John (1905-1978), her nephew, the son of Augustus John, was the chief executor of her will. A memorial exhibition of Gwen John's work was held at the Matthiesen Gallery, London, in 1946.

Gwendolen Mary John (Gwen John) (1876-1939), artist, was born at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. She was the sister of the artist Augustus John (1878-1961). Between 1895 and 1898, she was a pupil at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, alongside her brother. During her time at the school she befriended other female artists, including Ursula Tyrwhitt, and Ida Nettleship, who later married Augustus John. She studied in Paris at the Academie Carmen in 1898, before moving back to England, living in London until 1904, when she returned to France with her friend Dorothy 'Dorelia' McNeill. She moved back to Paris and remained in France for most of the rest of her life. The majority of her paintings were of women or girls, and her work was exhibited in Paris, London and New York. During her time in Paris she met the sculptor Auguste Rodin, and in 1910, the American art collector John Quinn became a patron of her work. Gwen John died in Dieppe, France, in 1939. Edwin John (1905-1978), her nephew, the son of Augustus John, was the chief executor of her will. A memorial exhibition of Gwen John's work was held at the Matthiesen Gallery, London, in 1946.

Title based on contents.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 22799D.

The contents of NLW MSS 21701-22852 are indexed in greater detail in Handlist of Manuscripts in the National Library of Wales, vol. 8 (Aberystwyth, 1999).

For further John and Nettleship family letters, 1906-1979, see also NLW MS 22790D; John and Nettleship family papers, [c. 1908]-1967, are at NLW MS 22800E.

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