Letter from Hon. Edward Erskine, the British Chargé d'Affaires in Russia, to Charles Ruland announcing that he has ordered photographs of the two pictures requested by Ruland and reporting the photographer's comments about his charges.

Erskine writes that he has asked M. Denier to photograph the two pictures mentioned in Ruland's letter of 22 August. He comments that Passavant's description of the picture of Raphael's mistress is inaccurate: rather than having a linen on her lap, 'she is partially covered by a blue dress with some red in it'. The picture is ascribed to Giulio Romano in St Petersburg.

He adds that the Director of the Hermitage thinks the small St George and the Dragon of which he has already sent a photograph is 'the most valuable & only undoubted Raffaelle in the collection', and says that it originally belonged to Henry VIII.

Erskine reports that he has remonstrated with Denier about his prices, but the photographer says he could not do the work for less: he gets 100 roubles for every photographic portrait he makes and photographing these pictures is far more difficult and time-consuming than the portraits. Every visit to the Hermitage costs him a day. Erskine encloses Denier's receipt (not present) for the 300 roubles already paid (see VIC/ADDA10/85/558 & VIC/ADDA10/85/559 for his bill).

The two pictures were presumably that of Raphael's mistress mentioned here, and the Madonna of the Meadow mentioned in Ruland's note recording his letter of 22 August, which does not mention the former (see VIC/ADDA10/85/554).

Related Material: For related material, see VIC/ADDA10/85/558, VIC/ADDA10/85/559 and VIC/ADDA10/85/554.