Letter from an unidentified writer in Brussels to Baron [?Stockmar or Bunsen] about pictures attributed to Raphael now in St Petersburg, and mentioning two other Raphael pictures, one in Brussels belonging to Count Vilain XIV and another in Tournai, own

The writer is glad to be able to provide the Baron with the required information, which is, as stated in Herr Passavant's letter (enclosed with VIC/ADDA10/85/546), that Tsar Nicholas bought the two Raphael pictures in question for the Hermitage. He also states that Count Vilain XIV has a work by Raphael which is in Brussels, and that Monsieur Dumortier is said to have a fine Raphael in Tournai. He thinks both gentlemen would be happy to allow photographs to be taken.

The addressee may be Baron Christian von Stockmar, later Librarian and Secretary to Princess Frederick William of Prussia, or possibly to his father Baron Christian, adviser to the Prince Consort. Another possibility is Baron (Carl Christian) Bunsen, who helped trace another Raphael drawing (see VIC/ADDA10/85/400).

Related Material: For related correspondence, see VIC/ADDA10/85/400 and VIC/ADDA10/85/546.