[handwritten]
Oklahoma City
10-10-39
Mrs. Chas M. Russell,
725 Michigan Blvd.,
Pasadena, Calif.
Dear Mrs. Russell:
Since writing you and
receiving no reply. I wrote a
friend who lives in Pasedena
asking him to tell me whether
or not I was mistaken in the
address & his reply told me of
your illness. May I tell you
how sorry I am to hear of this
and assure you of my very best
thoughts & wishes for your quick
& thorough recovery. My own
misfortune in that way has
made me feel deeply for those
who suffer.
I do trust you are well
enough to not be annoyed by
my seeming [persistence?] in
asking you to help me to determine
the author of my painting – I
tried to describe it in a previous
letter but fear you did not receive
it or were too ill to consider it. (next)
I hope before many days to be able
to send you a photography of it. It
is a magnificent thing, done in
heavy oils on a canvas 36” x 60” of
a landscape – trees, crags, a stream
and delicate mountainous background.
It has soul as well as wonderful
tecnique [sic] – perspective, distancing
balance – everything. It is signed
in lower RH corner C. RUSSELL v 85v
I’ve studied Mr. Russell’s works,
and signature and the lettering is
identical with his authentic ones.
Did you ever know his early
works to be signed this way?
I’ve grown to love my picture,
but have been a widow & mother
for eight years and actual necessity
has made this decision for me.
I have a collector who offers a
very good figure for it if I can
definitely authenticate it, and of
course your statement would be
unquestionable. However, were it not
a Chas. M. Russell I want to know.
But something inside me says it is.
I’m enclosing a postal card, addressed
so that with a few words you may
feel strong enough to tell me you (next)
think it possible to recognize
to some measure Mr. Russell’s
work and whether or not he ever
mentioned such a picture – and
if he ever signed his art in this
way – If you could suggest
anything that might help me
along this line I should
appreciate it so very much.
With very kindest regards
and sympathy, I am,
Mrs. Vera Reed-Hart
710 NE. 13th St
Oklahoma City, Okla