Thomas Eakins Letters
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Eakins, Thomas, 1844-1916
setName: label: See more items in
content: Thomas Eakins letters
physdesc: label: Extent
content: (Box 1; 5 folders)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1866-1934
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.eakithom, Series 1
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: Letters to his family include letters to his mother, father, future brother-in-law William ("Bill") Crowell, youngest sister Caroline ("Caddy"), and numerous letters to his younger sister Frances ("Fanny") Eakins Crowell. In the letters Eakins discusses his life in Paris, European political events such as the attempt to assassinate Emperor Alexander of Russia and rioting in Paris, working in Jean-Léon Gérôme's studio, and his opinions on Gérôme's artwork, including in a letter a sketch of the painting Dante (April 1, 1869). He also discusses Frederick DeBourg Richards and Thomas Couture, as well as his friendship with artist William ("Bill") Sartain who was also living in Paris at the time, and Fanny's friendship with Emily Sartain, also an artist. Also found is a photographic copy of a November 8, 1866 illustrated letter to his mother. Most of the letters are fragments with pages missing, and almost all include transcripts.

Miscellaneous letters include photographic copies of a fragment of an illustrated letter from artist Charles Lewis Fussell to Eakins, three letters from Eakins to former student John Laurie Wallace, and one letter, dated 1934, to Mr. Wallace from Susan Eakins, all transcribed. Also found are photocopies of three letters from Eakins to William ("Bill") Hallowell, a friend and portrait subject.