D. Maclise, to Richard Sainthill

1 piece

"Drawings by Maclise displayed in his father's shop attracted the attention of the antiquary and coin collector Richard Sainthill (1787 - 1870), who became his most important early patron: he gave Maclise the use of a room as a studio in his house in Nelson Place, and introduced him to antiquarian and romantic literature. In 1820 Maclise met S. C. Hall who, as the editor of the Art Journal, was a strong supporter of the painter in its pages. Through Sainthill he also met Thomas Crofton Croker (1798 - 1854), a pioneer of Irish folklore research, whose Fairy Legends and Traditions of the South of Ireland, vol. 1, appeared in 1825; Maclise contributed some whimsical scenes of Irish life to the edition of 1826." [DNB]

Maclise sends Sainthill his thoughts on illustrating a fairy story relating to the hill of Knockshagowna [Knockshegowna, Co. Tipperary, Ireland], and incorporates a pen and ink drawing within the body of the letter. The item bears a subsequent letter from the recipient, signing himself Richard Sainthill jr, to Crofton [Croker], [Admiralty], dated 13 December 1825, in which he forwards Maclise's letter and commends his illustration. Endorsed [by Sainthill]: "to be opened with caution".

Folded and torn. The item needs to be removed from the volume, where it is currently in danger of suffering further damage.