Prince Albert's Personal Papers
Papers relating to Prince Albert’s personal life and enthusiasms
ALBERT, PRINCE CONSORT
Copy letter from the Prince Consort to Count Riesch thanking him for lending his family's Raphael drawing of the Massacre of the Innocents to be photographed for the Prince's collection, and sending him a photograph of the Raphael drawing of the same subj
8 Feb 1860Loose manuscript paper; mounted | 1 document (2 pages) (whole object) | RA VIC/ADDA10/85/446
The Prince writes to say that the Raphael drawing of the Massacre of the Innocents will be returned to Count Riesch this day by courier. He thanks the Count for sending it to England for him to see, and allowing it to be photographed for his collection of works by Raphael. He is sure that far from losing value by being reproduced, the drawing will gain value by becoming known.
He encloses a copy of the photograph that has been taken, so that the Count can judge how far it has been successful in reproducing the fine detail of the drawing, and the glass negative will follow shortly so that the Count can have further prints made in the future if he wishes.
The Prince goes on to say that he is also enclosing a photograph of the Raphael drawing of the same subject from the Royal Library in Windsor as a gift from himself, so that the Count can see how Raphael developed his original idea for the picture. He adds that there is an even more complete drawing of the same subject in the Royal Art Collection in Dresden and he thinks it likely that the Director, Herr Gruner, would be glad to exchange a photograph of it for one of Count Riesch's drawing.
Creator(s)
Albert, Prince Consort (writer) [8 February 1860]
Riesch, Johann, Count (addressee)
1 document (2 pages) (whole object)