the Cardinals de’ Medici & Rossi, said to
be painted by Giulio Romano after the
original of Raffaelle; but which, I think,
is more probably the copy mentioned by
Vasari, in his own life, as painted for Ottaviano
de’ Medici_ unless this same Ottaviano plays
the same trick upon the duke of Florence
as he had before done upon the Duke of
Mantua, in which case my picture may
be the original. It is in the highest tone
of colouring & in fine preservation. Several
persons who have seen both the picture
in the Louvre & that at Capo di Monte
have assured me that this appears in their
eyes so similar as not to be distinguisable
by memory.
My dining room _ 32 feet by 20 _ I intend
to decorate with your pictures only; but in
order to compleat it I want one to hang
over the chimney, which shou’d not be less
in the canvas than 6 feet by 4½ or 5_
If you can undertake to paint me this
for the balance of £200 _ which is due
on your note it will settle our accounts in
our life time & prevent any trouble to our
Executors.
The subject I should wish to be
painted is the death of Lorenzo de’ Medici
or rather the interview between him &
Pico & Politiano a short time previous
to his death,; an account of which you
[w]ill find in the last Chap. of his [Life].
The figures I shou’d wish to be [half]
lengths, the size of life. Pray consider it;
& if you think proper to paint it, favour
me with your ideas in a slight sketch,
at your own convenience, when I shall
be happy to hear from you, & in the mean
time remain most affectionately & truly yours
W. Roscoe.
I am just republishing a colln of occasional
Tracts on the war. If you think it worth
while to call on Mess. Cadell & Davies &
ask for a copy in my name they will give it you.