DEDHAM.- The Munnings Art Museum is publishing a new book, written by Brenda Parrish, based on letters written by the celebrated artist, to his second wife, Violet McBride between 1920 and 1922.

A century after many of them were first written and posted, this beautiful new book – based on fifty-four letters – reveals never-before-seen correspondence between the celebrated artist and his wife. Yours with love AJ: Letters from Sir Alfred Munnings to his wife, Violet 1920 – 1922 also features over 30 illustrations of the paintings and sketches that relate to the subject matters and individuals mentioned in the letters.

Intimate, affectionate and often with typically British grumbles about the weather, these early letters from Munnings reveal unique insights about the man and his life during a pivotal point in his career.

When the first of the letters was written in April 1920, Munnings had already established himself as an artist of notable repute, not least following the critical and public success of his wartime paintings of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and Canadian Forestry Corps, exhibited at the Royal Academy, London, in 1919.

His equestrian portraits, such as that of Captain Prince Antoine of Orleans and Braganza, brought him to the attention of aristocratic and wealthy patrons, who were eager to commission to paint both themselves and their favourite horses. Through her father’s connections as the owner of a riding school in London, Violet was also well-placed to introduce her husband to potential new customers.

The equestrian commissions, as well as bringing fame, wealth and ultimately earning him a knighthood and the Presidency of the Royal Academy, were also influential in Munnings developing a more realistic style. His earlier, quick hand and impressionistic style evolved into one that satisfied his patrons’ desire to be represented in a clearer, more precise and less exuberant manner.

Another aspect of the commissions following the 1919 exhibition, was that Munnings was required to leave his idyllic home in the village of Dedham, in north Essex, and travel great distances to be near his clients. It was while billeted in local hostelries, or with his patrons, that he began to write regular letters home, to Violet.

Seemingly dashed off in quieter moments, the letters resemble a conversation, with the subject matters jumping around, along with little regard for grammar and punctuation. They also reveal the abiding love Munnings had for Violet, as he often included terms of endearment and signed off his missives with ‘Yours with love AJ’ and a large ‘X’.

Munnings’ frequent letters home provide us not only with deeply personal and intimate details of his time spent away from Dedham and his domestic arrangements, but also reveal how ‘AJ - as he was affectionately known by those close to him - was also acutely aware of and grateful for Violet taking charge of running their financial affairs and Castle House. Thus, he was able to accept more commissions and develop his own career in the process.

While staying at the White Hart Hotel (now Inn) in Holybourne, near Alton in Hampshire he wrote to Violet on 26 September 1920, frustrated by the weather but charmed by his patron’s butler and family. He also reveals his pleasure at negotiating some country butter from the nearby shop and what he planned to have for his lunch while working the following day:

‘My dear,
The damdest [sic] day that ever was – Raining pouring & I’m home again have done nothing & sat in the Butlers [sic] cottage & had a blessed go at composition but it surely [added] must be fine tomorrow etc.
Don’t [sic] care so long as I’ve got you – Oh – The Butler [deleted] tells me he is 43 & his wife 36 – their little boy is 3 - & daughter 6 months – The boy is a knock out he sits on my knee & to see him on his high chair having dinner with his Mum is alright. Just been across to the shop & weedled ½ pound country butter out of them – they hadn’t any at first – Such good stuff too – Then I’ll take a piece of cheese & a loaf down & eat a raw onion & do myself well - Quite alright if I have decent food.’

Four days later, he again wrote to Violet, this time referring to a curious miscommunication between himself and Lady Torrington. He had agreed to paint her horse, Rich Gift, but was not best-pleased when she sent it and her groom to Munnings’ home, Castle House, without prior arrangement and whilst he was still painting in Hampshire:

‘Dear Violet
Evening News had my portrait in & a paragraph on my letter to D. Mail - [Written vertically up left-hand side of the page and scribbled out]
Your express & other letter just here – undoubtedly you are the best manager of things living – I’ll get back as soon as ever I can & do that horse – Ly. Torrington seems alright. I like her letters & wires & as she’s sent the horse to I’ll see what can be done, but as I wrote about my doings here last night you’ll have understood it all by now – I’ll let you know about my getting back - & will think it out. Anyhow I’ll motor up to London from here as I did last year
Thanks for all your letters & [deleted]
Much love AJ’

Munnings’ correspondences also share his other great passion, the English countryside. Whilst working away from Essex, he would take a daily walk in the surrounding rural area and, if time permitted, he would paint the scene before him. More often than not though, he would write an evocative letter home. He described an evening walk at Catterick with an artist’s eye for colour:

“ … all very beautiful – a lowering autumn afternoon with lights in the sky here & there & spits of rain. Brown & yellow trees about & curving fields. Some were stubble & large flocks of starlings rose & rooks were about too. By an old Abbey – Easeby Abbey– the trees were all gold – the sombre drifting clouds & dark rich ploughed earth with yellow leaves lying thick & large yellow leaves on the sycamores - so large they looked like yellow pieces of tattered yellow silk.”

Announcing the book’s publication, Jenny Hand, Director of Munnings Art Museum, said: “These letters reveal much about Munnings himself, his personality, his opinions, interests and beliefs and his working practices.”

“They also provide fascinating insights into the times in which he lived and, in particular, the aristocratic world of his patrons. These intensely personal missives home would also comment on the difficulties of painting and the loneliness of being away. He also wrote evocative descriptions of the particular countryside he found himself in, complete with quotes from literature plus observations on contemporary events and the many and varied people he met during these commissions. These remarkable documents serve to give us a series of unique insights into not only Munnings himself, but also into the times in which he lived.”

Brenda Parrish, author of Yours with love AJ: Letters from Sir Alfred Munnings to his wife, Violet 1920 – 1922 spent many hours painstakingly transcribing the Museum’s collection of over two hundred letters and says: “It was a privilege to work on them, even though at times it was a challenge to decipher Munnings’ scrawling handwriting and, with the lack of dating, to place the letters into any coherent order.

However, the references to contemporary events that can be verified externally have helped with this and with placing his works in the context of their creation. This has also led to more accurate dating of some of his many undated paintings.”

Brenda adds: “It was a very personal introduction to Munnings, not just to the artist and the events of his life and career but to the essence of the man himself as this first publication of fifty-four of his letters now uniquely reveals.”

Yours with love AJ: Letters from Sir Alfred Munnings to his wife, Violet 1920 – 1922 will be on sale from Monday 10 May 2020 at www.munningsmuseum.org.uk, priced £25 (plus £3 postage & packing).