Sales catalogue 652: Maggs Bros

Date:: 1937

Reference:: WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/176

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 652: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

78/88 page 76

879 WIERTZ (ANTOINE JOSEPH, 1806-1865). Belgian Painter. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO HIS MOTHER. 3 pp., 8vo. Rome, 7th October, 1835. £7 10s A long and extremely interesting letter, written from Italy where he was living after gaining the Roman pension, and where he painted the best of his historical pictures, the ‘‘ Fight for the body of Patroclus.” (Trans.) : Sean . I beg you not to worry in the least about the cholera. This disease has utterly fled from Italy. It seems as though God wished to pre- serve the Eternal City from His deadly scourge. The Romans attribute their deliverance to the prayers of the Holy Father and to the extreme confidence of the people in the Madona—as they call the Virgin. Processions and public prayers have been made in all quarters of Rome. A miraculous Virgin was transported with brilliant ceremonial from one church to another, accompanied by the Pope and by the whole population of Rome, who followed saying their prayers aloud. It was really an imposing spectacle, and one which made the greatest impression on one’s spirit. We have had the brilliant festivities of the month of October at the Villa Borghese. I believe I gave you some details last year about these charming excursions when all the people seem to go about with a joy that one can find nowhere else. The tambourine dances were very animated, and the crowd was larger than last year. M. Simonis and I are astonished that the picture has not yet arrived; but we think the delay must be due to the vessel’s having encountered bad weather at sea. ‘You always speak, my dear mother, of my return. This is quite natural, I desire it as much as you do. I cannot give you a definite time, as it depends on the conclusion of my picture, which is still making great strides. So have a little courage and patience. If only you knew how much of both I need to reach my goal promptly ! “IT am planning to send you (but without speaking of it) a Virgin after Raphael, of which you may make a gift in your name to the great Church of Dinant. It would be a remembrance that would keep you constantly in everybody’s mind, and you will understand how delighted I should be about it, and if afterwards your name were put there, it would be a great satisfaction to me. I have all sorts of plans of this kind, but my picture takes up so much time that I have to curb my desires. Our cousin Gilain speaks of the Inége Exhibition. I think it will be better not to show anything to the public until my latest works are ready, and then when I exhibit I should like to make the exhibition alone.’ Ete. 880 WILDE (OSCAR, 1854-1900). Wit and Dramatist. AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED TO MR. MORGAN. 4 pp., 12mo. Chelsea, N.D. £6 10s ‘“T have lent your MS. to a friend whose opinion I was very anxious to have. ‘“T see you have a true literary touch as well as feeling for the best things in Art,”’ Lite. The letter is a little dust-stained. 881 WILLIAM IV (1765-1837). King of Great Britain. THREE AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED AS LORD HIGH ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET. 4 pp., 4to. Dated from the Admiralty, January, May and October, 1827. £2 2s Ordering his correspondent to be in attendance at the presentation of the Colours to the Woolwich Division, and other instructions. 882 WINCHESTER (ROGER DE QUINCY, 2nd EARL OF, 1195-1265). Constable of Scotland. Took part in disputes between Henry III and his barons. FINE IMPRESSION OF THE WAX SEAL OF ROGER DE QUINCY, EARL OF WINCHESTER, ATTACHED TO A VELLUM DOCUMENT GRANTING JOHN DE RAVENSTONE THE TENANCY OF LANDS IN THE TOWN OF SHEPSHED, NEAR ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE, LEICESTERSHIRE, FOR THE RENT OF 2 SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE PER ANNUM, TO BE PAID THREE TIMES YEARLY. 1 page, small 4to. “e. 1240. £32 10s (SEE ILLUSTRATION OPPOSITE.) Roger de Quincy succeeded to the earldom on the death of his mother in 1235. Having married Helen, eldest daughter and coheiress of Alan, Lord of Galloway,

digitised image 1

digitised image 2

digitised image 3