Letter from William Russell to Charles Ruland about a painting in his collection which he thinks worthy of being photographed for the Prince Consort's collection, and sending two more drawings.

Russell writes that he thinks the painting he owns of the 'Bearing of the Cross' probably deserves photographing for the Prince's collection: he has been told by Sir William Miles of Leigh Court, who owns the picture which was engraved for Crozat's work, and by Cavalcaselle, that it closely resembles the Leigh Court picture. When Russell bought it from the late Lord Shaftesbury's collection the ground was painted over in green watercolour which disappeared when the varnish was removed, and some areas needed restoration, but otherwise it was in excellent condition and he thinks it is beautiful and worthy of 'one of the best of Rafaelle's scholars'. Russell sends the little drawing relating to 'The Shooting of the Target', with a copy from a drawing by Michelangelo in the Ambrosian Library, which he thinks confirms the belief that the Windsor drawing may be by Michelangelo. He has found a reference in Duppa's Life of Michelangelo to a woodcut with a head representing the portrait of Michelangelo. Finally, Russell states that he is sending the early composition for the Last Judgement which he bought at the Woodburn sale, in which he sees similarities with the Sleeping Cupid in the Windsor drawing.