Letter from Gerolamo Brioschi to Dr. Ernst Becker justifying his charge for his photographs of Signor Fumagalli's painting by Raphael.

Brioschi acknowledges receipt of Dr. Becker's letter (see VIC/ADDA10/85/267), which has greatly upset him. He maintains that the particular circumstances of his commission to photograph Signor Fumagalli's painting by Raphael [the Fumagalli Madonna] entailed unavoidable extra expenses which justified his charge of 125 francs per glass plate.

He was given the commission in winter and the owner refused to allow the painting to be photographed in the open air; the lack of light and the state of the painting meant that he had to use more than 40 plates to obtain a good enough result. He had to give a copy to Signor Fumagalli; in addition, there had been expenses involved in finding out who owned the painting and where it was, and in having it brought to his studio, together with the cost of having the plates safely transported out of Italy.

Moreover, he did not receive the commission direct from Dr. Becker, but through Mr Berg Junr, who ordered him to make miniature portraits of a lady and a gentleman, which cost about 100 francs, and to add this to his charge for the commission.

However, since Dr Becker had arranged for his account to be paid in full before making the remarks in his letter, Brioschi invites him to order any reduction to his account that he thinks fit. On any future occasion that the Prince Consort wishes to employ him, by direct commission rather than through others, he will carry out the work conscientiously and leave it to Dr. Becker to fix the amount to be paid to him.

Becker wrote 'no answer' at the top of the letter.

See VIC/ADDA10/85/269 for an English translation of this letter.

Related Material: For related correspondence, see VIC/ADDA10/85/267 and VIC/ADDA10/85/269.