William Theed, 12 A. Henrietta St, Cavendish Sq. to Carissimo Signor Cavaliere [John Gibson]

RA Collection: Archive

Archive context

Showing item 330 of 391 in this group

Reference code

GI/1/327

Title

William Theed, 12 A. Henrietta St, Cavendish Sq. to Carissimo Signor Cavaliere [John Gibson]

Date

05 Jun 1856

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Historical Background

Theed studied with Gibson in Rome. He developed a close friendship with Gibson and acted as a contact between Gibson and some of his patrons in England [DNB.]

Content Description

Theed assures Gibson that his group had arrived safely at Lord Yarborough's. He had only recently heard that Gibson had almost been lost returning to Rome the previous year, and he counsels him against travelling by sea. Theed gives news of [William] Boxall and others, including Lady Eastlake, who had got Davies removed into a lunatic asylum. He goes on to describe the flourishing state of his own practice, including work for Prince Albert. Theed tells Gibson that he had obtained a commission for one of the statues for the Mansion House, and had chosen a subject from Gray's 'Bard'. He asks Gibson's opinion on the subject, and wishes he could have Gibson's advice on his sketch. He adds a note for [Benjamin Evans] Spence at the end of the letter.