GE to Samuel Laurence, London, 8 April 1861
Title
GE to Samuel Laurence, London, 8 April 1861
Title
GE to Samuel Laurence, London, 8 April 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Samuel Laurence
Date(s)
- 1861-04-08
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Samuel Laurence, London, 8 April 1861
MS: Yale. Endorsed: George Elliot. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
April 8. 61.
My dear Sir
I have mentioned to Mr. Lewes your wish to exhibit my portrait at the Royal Academy, and he has stated to me -- what he had not stated before -- namely, his reasons for originally stipulating with you that the portrait should not be exhibited, or exposed to the risk of being copied. These reasons are entirely unconnected with you, or with the character of the likeness: they would apply to any portrait of me, by any artist whatever, and they are reasons which, now that he has fully stated them to me, I feel to be as strong as they appear to him.
I must therefore decline to give my consent that my portrait should be exhibited anywhere beyond the doors of your own atelier. 735 I remain, my dear Sir
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Samuel Lawrence Esq.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: George Elliot. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
April 8. 61.
My dear Sir
I have mentioned to Mr. Lewes your wish to exhibit my portrait at the Royal Academy, and he has stated to me -- what he had not stated before -- namely, his reasons for originally stipulating with you that the portrait should not be exhibited, or exposed to the risk of being copied. These reasons are entirely unconnected with you, or with the character of the likeness: they would apply to any portrait of me, by any artist whatever, and they are reasons which, now that he has fully stated them to me, I feel to be as strong as they appear to him.
I must therefore decline to give my consent that my portrait should be exhibited anywhere beyond the doors of your own atelier. 735 I remain, my dear Sir
Yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Samuel Lawrence Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Samuel Laurence, London, 8 April 1861, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/93791