Brief aan Philip Zilcken Possibly 1884

This is Philip Gilbert Hamerton’s handwritten letter to Philip Zilcken, dated December 5, 1884. Hamerton, a prominent British artist, writer, and art critic, penned this letter in French. Hamerton’s life and work reflect the cultural milieu of Victorian England, a period marked by strict social norms and a rapidly changing art world. As a critic, Hamerton often engaged with the artistic and social issues of his time. His writings championed landscape painting and etching, advocating for their recognition as serious art forms. One could imagine this letter is part of a broader discourse on the artistic standards and economic realities artists faced, with Hamerton presumably responding to a request from Zilcken to include his work in a portfolio. It is a brief glimpse into the world of artistic exchange, shaped by the hierarchies and economic constraints that defined the art market then. This letter connects us to the personal and professional relationships that sustained the art world.