Authors: Bruce Chatwin
Under the Sun (7 page)
As at Old Hall School, Chatwin concentrated his best efforts on acting. He was Secretary of the Shakespeare Society and played the Mayor in Gogol's
The Government Inspector
, Mrs Candour in Sheridan's
The School for Scandal
and James Winter JP in L. du Garde's
The White Sheep of the Family
. His interpretation of Winter, âan expert burglar', revealed to the critic of the
Wiltshire Gazette & Herald
âconsiderable acting ability; his speech and movement were well-defined and throughout the whole performance he seemed perfectly at ease'. Less impressive was his performance in class. In 1955, following a blow on the head while playing rugby, Chatwin had to miss the Michaelmas term. He struggled to catch up. âHe still finds his term away rather a handicap,' wrote his favourite form master, Hugh Weldon, the following summer. His report for Michaelmas 1957 was typical: âThoroughness and consistent concentration do not come easily to him. Too often in school and, it seems, in preparation, he is led astray and his mind goes off at a tangent, usually interesting but usually irrelevant.' Towards the end of his time at Marlborough, Jack Halliday, Chatwin's housemaster at B2, put pressure on him to think about a career. âThe undoubted success he had on the stage in Memorial Hall shows that he is extremely capable at organising other people, while the undoubtedly unsatisfactory reports in this folder show that he is not very capable at organising himself. In the holidays Bruce simply
must
get to grips with himself and, with his father's aid,
must
evolve a plan for his future.' Halliday proposed the Law and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, but Chatwin was quite sure that he did not want to follow in his father's footsteps. In his third year, he planned to try for a place to read Classics at Merton College, Oxford â the college of his grandfather and also of Robert Byron, an Old Marlburian writer whose work Chatwin already revered. But then National Service ended, the university had to find space for an extra generation of students and Chatwin might have to delay coming up for two years. Instead, he proposed a stage career following his successful production of
Tons of Money
. Charles, however, was adamant that neither of his sons should go directly from the sheltered life of boarding school to student digs in London, and declined Chatwin's ambitions for RADA, countering with a suggestion that he might consider the family profession of architecture. Chatwin was not prepared to study the science of building. His next idea was a job in Africa, following the example of his best friend at Marlborough, Raulin Guild, who had gone to work in Northern Rhodesia, but Margharita objected: Africa was where Uncle Humphrey had met his sad end. Then she read an article in
Vogue
about a firm of fine art auctioneers.âWhat about Sotheby's for Bruce?' So Charles contacted an old school friend Guy Bartleet, a chartered surveyor who had sold at Sotheby's a Monet of âa train going over a bridge', to effect an introduction to Peter Wilson, the Chairman of Sotheby's.
To Peter WilsonThe Government Inspector
, Mrs Candour in Sheridan's
The School for Scandal
and James Winter JP in L. du Garde's
The White Sheep of the Family
. His interpretation of Winter, âan expert burglar', revealed to the critic of the
Wiltshire Gazette & Herald
âconsiderable acting ability; his speech and movement were well-defined and throughout the whole performance he seemed perfectly at ease'. Less impressive was his performance in class. In 1955, following a blow on the head while playing rugby, Chatwin had to miss the Michaelmas term. He struggled to catch up. âHe still finds his term away rather a handicap,' wrote his favourite form master, Hugh Weldon, the following summer. His report for Michaelmas 1957 was typical: âThoroughness and consistent concentration do not come easily to him. Too often in school and, it seems, in preparation, he is led astray and his mind goes off at a tangent, usually interesting but usually irrelevant.' Towards the end of his time at Marlborough, Jack Halliday, Chatwin's housemaster at B2, put pressure on him to think about a career. âThe undoubted success he had on the stage in Memorial Hall shows that he is extremely capable at organising other people, while the undoubtedly unsatisfactory reports in this folder show that he is not very capable at organising himself. In the holidays Bruce simply
must
get to grips with himself and, with his father's aid,
must
evolve a plan for his future.' Halliday proposed the Law and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, but Chatwin was quite sure that he did not want to follow in his father's footsteps. In his third year, he planned to try for a place to read Classics at Merton College, Oxford â the college of his grandfather and also of Robert Byron, an Old Marlburian writer whose work Chatwin already revered. But then National Service ended, the university had to find space for an extra generation of students and Chatwin might have to delay coming up for two years. Instead, he proposed a stage career following his successful production of
Tons of Money
. Charles, however, was adamant that neither of his sons should go directly from the sheltered life of boarding school to student digs in London, and declined Chatwin's ambitions for RADA, countering with a suggestion that he might consider the family profession of architecture. Chatwin was not prepared to study the science of building. His next idea was a job in Africa, following the example of his best friend at Marlborough, Raulin Guild, who had gone to work in Northern Rhodesia, but Margharita objected: Africa was where Uncle Humphrey had met his sad end. Then she read an article in
Vogue
about a firm of fine art auctioneers.âWhat about Sotheby's for Bruce?' So Charles contacted an old school friend Guy Bartleet, a chartered surveyor who had sold at Sotheby's a Monet of âa train going over a bridge', to effect an introduction to Peter Wilson, the Chairman of Sotheby's.
Brown's Green Farm | Hockley Heath | Birmingham | 15 April 1958
Â
Dear Sir,
Mr Bartleet has been good enough to give me the enclosed letter of introduction to you.
I am very anxious to learn the best way of making a career in Fine Art. If you would find time to see me before I go back to school on May 1st, I should be most grateful, and would hold myself ready to come at any time at short notice,
Yours Faithfully,
C. B. Chatwin
Â
A date was fixed for 3.30 Tuesday 29 April. The meeting went sufficiently well for Charles to give notice to Marlborough that Bruce would not be returning.âI shall miss that cheerful and accomplished boy,' wrote the registrar Reginald Jennings by return, on May 2. On 7 May Wilson wrote to Charles:âI very much enjoyed meeting your son and shall look forward to seeing him again during the summer.'
To Peter WilsonB2 | Marlborough College | Wiltshire | 13 June 1958
Â
Dear Sir,
When I came to see you in April, you said that I should write to you again in June, by which time you would probably know if there was a place for me at Sotheby's.
If there does happen to be a job available, I am very keen to take it. If you would like to see me again, I could easily arrange to come up to London at any time except from the 7th July for about a fortnight, when I am taking my exams.
Yours Faithfully,
C. B. Chatwin
Â
Eventually, Wilson saw Chatwin in September and offered him a job as numbering porter in the Works of Art Department for £6 a week.
CHAPTER TWO
SOTHEBY'S: 1959-66
Chatwin was lucky to join Sotheby's at a time when Peter Wilson was expanding the auction house from four departments to fifteen. He rode the crest of this expansion.âThere is no doubt in my mind that Sotheby's was the main stimulus of Bruce's life,' says David Nash, an Old Marlburian who worked alongside Chatwin in the Impressionist and Modern Art Department, and travelled with him to Afghanistan. He learned from Wilson, and from the Antiquities Department adviser John Hewett, how to look at and handle a work of art, describe it concisely and to judge its market value. Sponsored by Sotheby's, he visited countries where these objects had originated and, âslavishly' aping Robert Byron's itinerary, tracked his footsteps through Greece and Afghanistan.
Hugh remembers how, at Brown's Green Farm, Chatwin's family marvelled at his work-life pattern: âhis freedom to fly to Athens, thence to visit the sights, and the sites of digs, and his cosmopolitan friends at their island homes â journeying as if a university professor on long vacation and not an auction house trainee aged 20!'
Sotheby's enabled Chatwin to meet a network of aesthetically minded, rich enquiring dealers and collectors like Robert Erskine, Christopher Gibbs, John Kasmin, Teddy Millington-Drake, Edward Lucie-Smith, George Ortiz, Simon Sainsbury and Cary Welch.
It also introduced him to his wife.
For his first two months in London, Chatwin lodged with his uncle John Turnell, at 111 Cleveland Road in Ealing. He next moved to digs in St John's Wood, before signing a lease in August 1959 on a mews flat behind St George's Hospital. To share the rent, he took in Anthony Spink who worked at the family firm of coin dealers. The only friend Spink recalls Chatwin inviting home was Ivry Guild.âShe was here a lot.'
Ivry (
b
.1937) had met Chatwin on a bright sunny morning in his last term at Marlborough. On Sunday 20 July 1958 the Oscar-winning film-maker Emeric Pressburger had driven her down from London in his greeny-yellow Bentley. Ivry, dressed like a 1920s flapper, sat in the front seat wearing a green suede hat. âWe alighted in the centre of Marlborough College courtyard and caused a sensation,' she recalls. âEmeric brought a huge chocolate cake specifically ordered from Madame Prunier in St James's for Raulin, and some smoked sturgeon from The Czarda in Dean Street, along with horseradish cream that we all ate for lunch.' Ivry's brother Raulin was Head Boy and Captain of Games, and a close friend of Chatwin. âRaulin took us in the afternoon to Bruce's study because he wanted me to see what fascinating furniture and objects Bruce had collected from local shops.'
b
.1937) had met Chatwin on a bright sunny morning in his last term at Marlborough. On Sunday 20 July 1958 the Oscar-winning film-maker Emeric Pressburger had driven her down from London in his greeny-yellow Bentley. Ivry, dressed like a 1920s flapper, sat in the front seat wearing a green suede hat. âWe alighted in the centre of Marlborough College courtyard and caused a sensation,' she recalls. âEmeric brought a huge chocolate cake specifically ordered from Madame Prunier in St James's for Raulin, and some smoked sturgeon from The Czarda in Dean Street, along with horseradish cream that we all ate for lunch.' Ivry's brother Raulin was Head Boy and Captain of Games, and a close friend of Chatwin. âRaulin took us in the afternoon to Bruce's study because he wanted me to see what fascinating furniture and objects Bruce had collected from local shops.'
Ivry became for Chatwin the epitome of London glamour; he was to keep in touch with her for the rest of his life and inscribed her copy of
On the Black Hill
to âmy abiding friend'.
To Ivry GuildOn the Black Hill
to âmy abiding friend'.
Beirut | Lebanon | 21 March 1959
Â
This place is blissful â rather like the south of France. I am sitting on my balcony overlooking deep blue sea & snow-capped peaks.
Wish
you were here. I hope you are well & behaving yourself. I should be back in two or three weeks. I look forward to seeing you then. XXX Bruce
To Charles and Margharita ChatwinWish
you were here. I hope you are well & behaving yourself. I should be back in two or three weeks. I look forward to seeing you then. XXX Bruce
Postcard, The Gulf of Porto Conte | Sardinia | 24 July 1959
Â
Had an amusing time in Paris & Rome, and met people. Arrived Alghero in blazing heat. Went coral fishing with a crew of Neapolitans for a whole day yesterday. Bicycled to rock cut necropolis this morning. Food good but wild boar out of season. Arrived Sassani this evening by diesel. Met in Alghero squadron yachts from Majorca. No wind far out to sea but always breeze on coast in August. Invited aqualunging by German couple at Golfo di Aranci.
To Charles and Margharita ChatwinPostcard, Figorolo Island | Golfo Aranci | Sardinia | 29 July 1959
Â
As I rather hinted in the last card, Sardinia, though fascinating is quite impossible in this heat without a car.
31
And rather than go to the south, which is the wrong direction, at a cost of over £12 in travelling expenses,
32
I have decided to go from here to the mainland. Stay for a few days in Tarquinia and explore the Etruscan painted tombs and really leave Sardinia for another time. 10 minutes swimming in this sun produce one â
inglese arrosto
',
33
as my friends call me. They are going back today. My nose bled solidly for no apparent reason the day before yesterday for 1½ hrs. B
31
And rather than go to the south, which is the wrong direction, at a cost of over £12 in travelling expenses,
32
I have decided to go from here to the mainland. Stay for a few days in Tarquinia and explore the Etruscan painted tombs and really leave Sardinia for another time. 10 minutes swimming in this sun produce one â
inglese arrosto
',
33
as my friends call me. They are going back today. My nose bled solidly for no apparent reason the day before yesterday for 1½ hrs. B
Â
Â
In May 1960 Chatwin invited his mother to the Balmain sale at Sotheby's.
To Margharita Chatwin18 Grosvenor Crescent Mews | Belgravia | [May 1960]
Â
Mummy Dear,
Am not lunching so can you have it with me. Spring cleaners are here all day today and are doing stairs to-morrow. Phone me as soon as you get in.
XX B
Â
Within a short space, Chatwin held the reins in both Antiquities and Impressionists and Modern Art, or âImps'. In the summer of 1960 he was also involved in the sale of a small panel painting by Fra Angelico, one of two owned by Edward Peregrine, who had taught him Latin at Old Hall School. The painting of St Benedict, 15â
inches by 5â
, was part of the collection of Peregrine's grandfather, physician to the Duke of Wellington; the other panel portrait was of St Anthony Abbot. Chatwin was given the sale to handle because he had known Peregrine and provedâa very useful friend at court'. Archives, incredibly, are non-existent for this period, and Chatwin's correspondence affords a rare glimpse of Sotheby's behind the scenes. Employees of the auction house were not supposed to do private deals with Sotheby's clients, and what is going on remains elusive, but the tone suggests a Byzantine intrigue.
To Edward PeregrineSotheby's & Co. | 34 & 35 New Bond Street | [May 1960]
Â
Dear E.F.P.,
It was very nice to see you too the other day, even though the occasion was not as happy as could be.
34
34
I am sorry that this should have cropped up. However the decision has now been made, and the one panel is being shown to prospective buyers, and Mrs G
35
is confirmed more than ever that the decision is the right one. So I think that the best thing to do is just for all of us to relax until we come to the question of a reserve price just before the sale.
35
is confirmed more than ever that the decision is the right one. So I think that the best thing to do is just for all of us to relax until we come to the question of a reserve price just before the sale.
Hoping for the best, Bruce
To Edward Peregrine18 Grosvenor Crescent Mews | Belgravia | 9 May 1960
Â
APOLOGIES FOR DELAY IN WRITING SALE DATE 22 JUNE WILL WRITE SOON WITH MORE DETAILS BRUCE
To Edward PeregrineSotheby's & Co. | 34 & 35 New Bond Street | 10 May 1960
Â
Dear E.F.P.,
I must apologise for the frightful delay in replying to your letter but I have been away and the sale date has only just been fixed.
Mrs Gronau is at the moment on the Continent and does not return until Monday 16th May and there are one or two points that have arisen which she would like to discuss with you personally. I had a word with her on the telephone this morning and she wonders if you, Mrs Peregrine or both of you, could possibly manage to come up to lunch on Monday 16th May and talk them over directly with her. Could you give us a ring or drop a line to let us know?
Looking forward to seeing you.
Yours ever, Bruce
To Edward PeregrineSotheby's & Co. | 34 & 35 New Bond Street | 16 June [1960]
Â
Dear E.F.P.,
Many thanks for your letter. With regard to the question of the reserve price, I wonder if you would fill in the slip that was enclosed with the catalogue for £6,000, at the same time making the provision that we can increase it at our discretion nearer the sale.
The old gentleman is at the moment sitting on an easel on a table in the entrance gallery and is attracting a lot of attention.
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