Letter from Hon. Edward Erskine, the British Chargé d'Affaires in St. Petersburg, to Charles Ruland announcing that has sent negatives and prints of four pictures by Raphael for the Prince Consort and enclosing the photographer's bill.

Erskine writes that he has sent negatives and prints of three pictures by Raphael in the Hermitage ordered by the Prince Consort through Sir John Crampton (he corrects this to four in a postscript). One is a small picture which the Director of the Gallery considers of great merit but which may have escaped HRH's attention. Erskine suggests that if HRH wishes to present the Hermitage with the album of [photographs] of Raphael drawings [at Windsor], it should be sent to the Director, Mr Bruni.

He encloses the bill for the photographs he has sent (see VIC/ADDA10/85/558 and VIC/ADDA10/85/559); he thinks it exorbitant and has tried to get it reduced, but the photographer maintains that the work was very onerous and time-consuming. Erskine comments that prices in Russia are ruinous, and still more so if the commission is a royal one.

He could try again for a reduction, but points out that this was the same photographer who was permitted to send a photograph of Shamyl to the Queen, and HM authorized Crampton to give him a present in return, so that his current bill could be considered a settlement for all his claims. Erskine adds his bank details and the exchange rate, if HRH wishes to make the payment through him.

A note by Ruland records that he replied on 22 August asking for a photograph of the 'Vierge à la Prairie', that the bill had been paid and that arrangements would be made later to send the album.

The bill shows that the photographer was Andrey Denier (c1797-1871). The photograph of Shamyl is in the Royal Photograph Collection, RCIN 2935078.

Related Material: For related material, see VIC/ADDA10/85/558 and VIC/ADDA10/85/559.