Trumbull, John:

$7,500 · Offered by William Reese Company · No longer available

[AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM JOHN TRUMBULL TO BENJAMIN WEST]. John Trumbull writes to his friend and instructor, painter Benjamin West, regarding the purchase of several paintings. This was written during Trumbull's time as John Jay's secretary on the Jay Treaty Commission, after he had been sent to France to discuss the Treaty with James Monroe, the United States minister to France. Trumbull was delayed in France, awaiting orders, and filled his time by collecting art with the help of connoisseur Jean-Baptiste Pierre Lebrun. The letter, sent from Paris, reads:"Dear Sir, You recollect my asking your opinion with respect to the prudence of purchasing pictures at present. I have been tempted to purchase a number which are now packing up to be sent forward as soon as possible, and I hope soon to have the pleasure of shewing you several such as we seldom see. Among them is a large landscape by Berghem [probably the Dutch painter Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem], clear and beautiful as Claude. It is allowed here to have no equal among his works except one which is in the National Museum - a small picture by Nicholas Poussin, Christ in the Garden of Olives, the most beautiful thing I ever saw - a small picture a Religious Allegory by Guido - a St. John by Murillos - a Virgin, Child & Angels by Schidone - another by Augustin Carrache, a Magdalen by Carlo Dolci, another by LeSoeur - a Holy Family small & beautiful by Nicholas Poussin - Two capital Landscapes by Salvater - two capital

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