Every one who visits the galleries of the Louvre to examine its pictures
and statues critically and with care, is convinced that much of their
effect is lost (particularly that of the pictures) in consequence of its
being generally lighted on each side by windows, and only a small
proportion of the picture-gallery by sky-lights. Fuseli, who had seen
and recollected most, if not all, of the celebrated pictures, of the
Italian schools in particular, in the churches or palaces for which they
were painted, and to which the artists had accommodated their light and
shadow, was particularly struck with the difference in their effect, and
deplored their removal. He likewise perceived with great regret, the
injury which they had sustained and were sustaining from the hands of
the French picture-cleaners, or, as they are generally called,
picture-restorers; and that, among others, the celebrated
"Transfiguration," by Raphael, although it had suffered less than most,
was in some degree impaired.
As the peace between England and France was of short duration, one of
the objects of Fuseli's visit was lost, and his observations on the
works of art then in the Louvre were not therefore published. The
memoranda which he made were afterwards incorporated either in his
"Lectures on Painting," in his "Fragment of a History of Art," or in the
observations on the works of artists, in his editions of "Pilkington's
Dictionary of Painters."
In the year 1803, he gave a picture to "The Union" Society at Liverpool:
which he presented to the members, to use his own words, "as a trifling
pledge of gratitude to a country which has reared the humble talents
which I possess." Mr. Roscoe acknowledged the receipt of this picture by
the following letter:--
"MY DEAR FRIEND,
"I have waited, day by day, for the last month, in expectation of
either seeing you or hearing from you; and my patience being now
quite exhausted, I can no longer refrain from enquiring what can be
the reason of this alteration, or, at least, long protraction, of
your intended visit to this place.
"In my last, I endeavoured to express the pleasure I felt in the
hope of seeing you so soon, and only requested that I might have a
line before you left London, that I might arrange matters (being
now a man of business) so as to enjoy as much of your company as
possible. We are now near the middle of November; the fine weather
leaving us, and winter fast approaching; yet I still flatter myself
that I may see you, and shall do so, till I hear from you to the
contrary. Why not spend your Christmas with us, when days are
short, and little professional time can be lost by it? At all
events, let me _hear_ from you, that I may either continue to enjoy
the hope of seeing you, or reconcile myself as well as I can to my
disappointment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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