Viewing page 262 of 473

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

253

Monday Jan. 26th 1881. Did not work much today. The frame makers came and got the remaining pictures of Giffords. James Gifford is packing up the furniture and things in the studio to send to Hudson. At 2 o'clock I went up to see Dr [[Justin?]] the pain in my lung still continuing. I was conscious of it all night. He made an examination of my lung and while not entirely decided was inclined to thing the difficulty muscular. He gave me some medicine however and is coming to see me tomorrow. I have been greatly depressed today. An article in the Tribune this morning on a collection of American pictures to be sold at auction is so discouraging and so reflects a wide spread feeling that it made me very unhappy. It does seem too bad that we have no man of ability who will say one word for me. I sat in front of my fire this evening as it began to grow dark and I had a most crushing sense of loneliness. It was the time dear Gertrude and I used to talk together after the work of the day, and thinking of her sweet and satisfying and intelligent companionship the world seemed very dreary without her. It seemed to me I could bear these discouraging things so much better with her to sympathise with me. Wrote to Sara.

Thursday 27. Very cold weather. Painted on my large picture. Dr [[Justin?]] called to see me. The pain in my lung has disappeared. Sam Coykendall called to see me. A meeting was held in Woods room to consider the subject of a reception. A committee was appointed to get the [[?]] of the artists to report next Tuesday. A letter from Osgood telling me Gertrudes translation of George Sands Master Mosaicists  was destroyed in the fire a year ago. I called on Mrs. Graf this evening. Whittredge came in and spent the latter part of the evening with me.

Friday 28. Still bitterly cold. Painted on my copy of the Vermont picture. Mary and I went to see Bridgmans pictures at Moons Gallery which was filled with them. There was great variety in his sketches which interested me more than his pictures. His collection looked as though he was not hampered by any thing but could go where he pleased to find subjects. Mr. Pratt spent the evening at my studio to get the dates of some of Giffords sketches. At a sale of American pictures last night Giffords last picture Kaaterskill Clove sold for $2575. Moore gave him $1135 for it- all the other American pictures seemed to sell well.

Saturday 29. This would have been dear Gertrudes forty seventh birth day. I went home by the morning train thankful I had a home to go to in times like these days so full of a tender sadness to me. Day by day I feel a growing desire to be amid the scenes of our happy married life and am more and more a stranger here in the city. My father met me at the Rhinebeck station with the sleigh. I found that