The Charles Dickens Letters Project

To ANGUS FLETCHER,1 [?MARCH 1838-FEBRUARY 1839] 

MS Yale University Library. Date: CD was sitting to Pickering from early 1838 to c. Feb 1839 (below); if Kate’s portrait was that by Laurence (below), then after Aug 1838. Address: A Fletcher Esquire / Dean Street.

Wedy. Morng

My Dear Sir

We find that to be dutiful and relation-like we must alter our plans, and ask divers aunts and uncles to dine with us to-day at 6. Will you alter your plan of coming in the evening, and dine with us too?

Faithfully Always

CHARLES DICKENS

A most mean signature, but I am writing under the soothing influence of Mr. Pickering,2 the author of that meek portrait still unfinished. A word in reply. Apropos. Kate3 wants her picture4 (only for the day) if you can send it by bearer.  

• 1. Angus Fletcher (1799-1862), sculptor. Born in Edinburgh; studied in London and Italy; exhibited 1831-9 at the Royal Academy, where his bust of CD was shown in 1839; subsequently abandoned sculpture and eventually settled in Italy: see Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 514, and later vols. The bust of CD is in the Charles Dickens House Museum.
• 2. Ferdinand Pickering, of 14 High Street, Camden Town, Active 1831-82; exhibited at the Royal Academy and elsewhere; painted mainly genre, literary, and historical subjects. His name and address noted in CD’s Diary, 10 Mar 38; sittings presumably began about then. The portrait (the “practical joke against me”) still in progress, 4 Jan 39 (To Forster, Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 491), and an appointment again noted in CD’s Diary, 21 Feb 39. No portrait of CD by him is known to exist.
• 3. Catherine Dickens (1815-79), CD's wife.
• 4. Not identified. Fletcher may have intended a companion bust of Kate to CD’s, using in part a sketch by himself or, possibly, an existing portrait. Samuel Laurence finished Kate’s portrait in Aug 1838 (Pilgrim Letters 1, p. 395 n.3) and Fletcher might even be working from that.