C. Metz, Rome, to Sir T. Lawrence, Russell Square, London

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

LAW/4/328

Title

C. Metz, Rome, to Sir T. Lawrence, Russell Square, London

Date

13 May 1825

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Content Description

His collection of drawings has few Raphael's and Michelangelo's and is mostly of the later school, Domenichino, Guercino, Pietro da Cortona, Rubens and Salvator Rosa, and others, a "mixed collection of all times"; the English and the Russians are plundering Italy, he describes peasants trundling to Rome with antique torsos, heads and limbs matched optimistically; the English ladies collect parts of the great ruins of Rome, their servants groaning under the weight of it all; Torwaldsen is restoring the statues bought by the Prince of Bavaria, he observed a lady shyly popping a "certain member not yet put to its place of destination" into her bag; he proposes to sell his drawings to Lawrence for £150; Westmacot has told him of the death of Fuseli and that Owen has been poisoned by his apothecary.