Letter from Sir John Crampton, the British Minister at St. Petersburg, to Dr Ernst Becker regretting that it has not yet been possible to obtain photographs of the works by Raphael in the Imperial Collection in the Hermitage.

In response to a letter from Becker (not present), Crampton regrets that he has not yet found a photographer who could produce tolerable copies of the Hermitage's Raphael pictures; local photographers do not seem to have the necessary apparatus.

He has hopes of a clever French photographer who is expected at St. Petersburg and who has agreed to photograph the pictures. Owing to the poor light in the winter months, however, this will not be possible until February at the earliest. Crampton adds that Count Schouvaloff does not know of any original drawings by Raphael in the Hermitage collection but will make enquiries.

Crampton adds that Schouvaloff would be the person to approach regarding the Prince Consort's wish to present the Russian authorities with copies of the drawings already photographed for his collection, in recognition of the help given in arranging for the Hermitage's Raphaels to be photographed for him.