[One Victorian painter writes to another.] Autograph Letter Signed from James Sant, RA, to George Lance, regarding a portrait over which he has been ‘going hard’.

See the two men’s entries in the Oxford DNB. 2pp, 12mo. On the first leaf of a bifolium, the second leaf being blank, apart from the end of the signature ‘Jas Sant’, which has extended across from the bottom right corner of the reverse of the first leaf. In good condition, lightly aged, with the reverse of the second leaf laid down on a rectangle of grey paper cut from a leaf of an album. Addressed to ‘G. Lance Esqr.’ The letter begins: ‘My Dear Sir / My best thanks for your note. Depend upon it I will look to myself and in doing so look to yr. criticisms and I hope benefit by them.’ He reports that he has been ‘going hard at the Portrait to day and it is a difficult thing already. I shall have a difficulty with the dress for her Grace [his patron Frances, Countess Waldegrave?] seems to think with horror of my particular style of costume being introduced, so I am making point lace do wonders. [last two words underlined]’. In conclusion he urges him to ‘Come when you can and cut me to ribbons and so oblige / Yours since[re]ly / Jas Sant’.