| Description | Includes correspondence of a personal nature concerning the relationship between Nicolson and Vertova and their possible marriage. Also concerns arrangements regarding travel to Italy & I Tatti in particular; arrangements to meet; friends (particularly Jocelyn Baines and Philip Toynbee); Nicolson's work writing reviews and conducting research on various projects (such as Terbrugghen) and visiting exhibitions. Reveals his sexuality in a sealed letter dated 17 November 1953 which is not amongst the letters.
Of particular note:
-letter, dated 10 October 1949 in which Nicolson writes ''I hesitate to suggest we start up a correspondence; but if you felt inclined to write, it would give pleasure'
-letter, dated 1 October 1951, concerning the public reception of Anthony Blunt's choice of pictures from the Siciento for the Royal Academy exhibition
-letter, dated 6 October 1953, in which Nicolson proposes to Vertova, declaring that he 'very much wanted to be married to you'
-letter, dated 10 October 1953, in which they acknowledge a change in their relationship; Nicolson states that he will write weekly, declaring that he is a good correspondent ('I adore writing letters. I could even say that I express myself more naturally on paper than in conversation)
-letter, dated 20 October 1953, concerning difficulties in his relationship with his mother; plans to leave Sissinghurst and buy a cottage in Essex
-letter, dated 9 November, 1953 in which he empahsises how important it is that they are truthful with each other but acknowledges that he hasn't told her 'all the disagreeable facts about myself. I cannot afford to tell them to you yet, because I am not yest absolutely confident that you will accept them. I might destroy everything we have built up by telling you now'. Also includes two photographs of Beech Cottages; Stoke-by-Nyland
-letter, dated 1 December 1953, concerning the National Art Collections bill and the sale of pictures from the National Gallery and Tate and Nicolson's purchase of a work by Mathia Pieti
-letter, dated 8 December 1953, concerning the role that sex and physical intimacy might play in their marriage (Nicolson declaring that sex plays a very small part in his life, but that he is concerned he will be a disappointment to Vertova); also discusses romantic love and whether this is important for a lasting marriage and mentions the possibility of children
-letter, dated 27 December 1953, concerning George Weidenfeld and practical matters concerned with their possible marriage such as homesickness and money |