Letter from Joseph Kanné to Dr Ernst Becker from Naples asking whether the price asked for photographs of the works of Raphael there is acceptable, and reporting on his visit to Palermo.

Kanné acknowledges Becker's letter (see VIC/ADDA10/85/253). On his arrival in Naples the only reliable photographer had been sent to the province affected by the earthquake. During his absence, Kanné obtained permission for the works by Raphael in Naples to be photographed. The photographer, M. Bernond, is willing to do the work but Kanné thinks his charges high, and asks if he should go ahead with the order. Unfortunately there is no better photographer in the city. Kanné has to leave Naples soon for Genoa, but M. Melga will see to the commission if Becker says it may go ahead, and Becker should send his answer, in French for Melga, to Naples.

While in Palermo Kanné did his best to have the only picture mentioned [on his list] photographed, but was unable to do so because there was no photographer there. He looked carefully at it and will be able to give details of it to Becker when he returns; he has seen most of Raphael's works so often that he can form at least a limited judgement of it. He could not find the little book ['opusculum'] by Agostino Gallo, but one of the monks in the monastery to which the picture [?of A. Gallo] belongs promised to send it to Dr Becker soon. He did find, however, a small book by Giuseppe Meli, written in answer to Gallo's work, and will give it to Becker when he returns.

A note by Becker on the letter records that he gave the go-ahead for the photography.

Related Material: For related correspondence, see VIC/ADDA10/85/253.