Manuscript copy of letter from William Lock to Alexander Murray, complaining from Italy about the result of the sale of his books and prints, discussing his estate, and planning the sale by Sotheby of his own paintings and those of Henry Fuseli.

Author: 
William Lock (1767-1847), painter, son of the connoisseur William Lock [Locke] (1732-1810) of Norbury Park, Surrey [Henry Fuseli; Samuel Sotheby; Alexander Murray; John Julius Angerstein]
Publication details: 
2 June 1821. Florence, Casa Quaratesi, Piazza Ognissanti.
£150.00
SKU: 13583

1p., 4to. Neatly written out in a contemporary hand (presumably the recipient's), with 'Copy' at the head. In very good condition, on lightly-aged laid paper with watermark of 'W D WELLS'. Signature transcribed as 'Wm. Lock'. Lock has just received Murray's letter of 18 May, 'giving me an Account of the Sales of my Books and Prints which is so much below what I had reason to expect, that I must beg you to apply only One thousand to the Payment of my Debt to my Fathers Executors'. He expects that the 'Produce of the Models' will be 'trifling, especially after what they have suffered in packing'. As far as his own paintings are concerned, 'Mr. Sotheby will follow the directions of Mr. J. Angerstein - I understand from my Sister Amelia that they were to go into Hertford Street - Mr. Fusiles [sic] Pictures will of course go with mine'. He assumes that the 'other Water Colour Pictures and the Seasons by Rosalba' were sold with the prints and drawings. He hopes that 'Mr. Robins' (the auctioneer George Henry Robins) has 'disposed of the Organ which remain'd with him'. He ends by thanking Murray for his 'prompt attention to my concerns', assuring him that he is 'persuaded [...] that all is done that can be done, when you do it yourself or when you direct others'. In a postscript he explains that he has 'put the whole of my direction [i.e. address] because there is here another William Lock'.