Amongst the papers of Nadea Dragonette Loftus which were not sent to the University of Wyoming’s American Heritage at Laramie by Nicholas M. Turner was a copy of a letter which the artist wrote to Mrs. Wilson from his New York studio on September 1, 1944 (present whereabouts of original document unknown) and which refers to this portrait-study in part as well as to No. 1 above and the portrait of Mrs Wilson done in 1916 (see below):
‘Dear Mrs Wilson
I read with delight in the N.Y. papers about the Wilson Birthplace Foundation and most interested and happy to know that the great President is getting more and more the recognition that he realy (sic) deserved.
I have a small life-size portrait of him that I painted in Jan & March 1917 as a study;
and to decide about the portrait The President and Colonel House wanted me to paint for the White House. And afterwards the President thought that if I should attend the memorial opening of Congress when he was making the declaration of war to Germany April 17 (sic) 1917, I might decide better for a suitable position for the painting.
With Colonel House I went to the sitting and sat near House, during the speech of that most tragic and impressive occasion.
Later Colonel House requested me not to send the portrait to the White House to keep for a while the painting in my studio, and after the cruel death of the wonderfull (sic) President, Colonel House told me that the portrait must go to the League of Nation.
Lord Duveen donated the portrait, and I hope that future generation will appreciate one of the greatest President of America.
I intended often to [request that you] kindly sign a copy I treasure of your life, but I sincerely hope you will do that some day in future.
If you or somebody interested in the Foundation would like to see this most interesting portrait I have at my studio, I should be most delighted to show such work, as it might be most suitable for the Foundation.
Anyhow, if you ever are in New York I should be highly honored if you would come once to my studio, and realy (sic) see the work I do, and specialy (sic) my flower paintings in the celebrated Chinese vases of J. P. Morgan.
I wonder how my portrait of your wonderfull (sic) self is looking now?, and if it should not be revarnished?
Please pardon the liberty taken to write to you and sending my high admiration for your great personality I remain
Yours cordialy (sic), Adolfo Müller-Ury.’
The letter echoes virtually the same information expressed in a letter dated July 1, 1935 (same source; present whereabouts of original document unknown) in which the artist explains the genesis of the portrait given by Duveen to the League of Nations. Mrs. Wilson must have acted upon the artist’s suggestion for the artist sent the small portrait to the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation at Staunton, Virginia in October 1944, as he recorded in his diary.
On October 1 he wrote: ‘…Amano molto il ritratto di Wilson (Presidente) che dipingo Marzo 1917 e che amerei se Mrs. Wilson presenterebbe per Wilson Foundation a Stanton Virginia. Il presidente is Mrs Hull (Cordell Hull), Jesse H. Jones, Secretary of Commerce, treasurer e 2 democrati Senator di Virginia vice President. Wilson Birthplace Foundation e si chiama Manse.’
The following day, October 2, he wrote:
‘Vengano a prandere ritratto del Presidente Wilson per esposizione a Bovin & Teller [Bonwit Teller, retail giant] a Fifth Avenue e 56th street New York – arrangiato come una camera al White House. French & Co – ossia Mr. & figlio Samuel – puo solo fai del bene e son contento che Mrs. Rosalinda Loftus sorella Jessica Dragonette – e questa i molto contenta per cio.’
A small portrait of Woodrow Wilson was exhibited at FRENCH & CO. INC., 210, East 57th Street New York, April 21 – May 3, 1947, No. 9. This was mentioned in American Art News, Vol. XLVI, New York, April 1947. Nadea Loftus claimed that it was a portrait in a private collection which was exhibited there, so it is possible that the picture never reached the foundation and was simply kept by the family of Mrs. Cordell Hull, unless it was another version at the sale below.
An extra lot called ‘Portrait of Woodrow Wilson’ was sold in the artist’s studio sale, Plaza Art Galleries, 5-11, East 59th Street, New York, Friday evening, December 5, 1947, Sale 2813, Lot 75A (Fetched $30.00 – marked copy in Frick Art Reference Library). This may have been the picture exhibited at French & Co. or another version of the portrait that went to the League of Nations in Geneva. .
Another possibly different picture, 30 x 25 ins (76.2 x 63.5 cm), signed and dated 1917, was sold at Weschler’s, Washington D.C., December 9, 1988, Lot 141, fetched $1100. No image is known.
