[?The Bachelor Duke?: William George Spencer Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire.] Two Autograph Letters Signed to Sir Charles Eastlake, regarding his painting ?The Spartan Isadas?, one on payment, delivery and repair by Sir Thomas Lawrence.

Two letters providing an insight into the relationship between artist and patron in nineteenth-century England. See the the Duke?s entry, and Eastlake?s, in the Oxford DNB, as well as James Lees-Milne?s biography ?The Bachelor Duke? (1991). With regard to the subject of the letters (now at Chatsworth), Eastlake?s obituary in the Illustrated London News states: ?A more important effort was a large composition, commissioned by the Duke of Devonshire, the subject of which was derived from Plutarch?s story of the Spartan Isadas appearing in a battle armed but undraped, and being in consequence taken for a god; the exhibition of which picture, in 1827, procured the artist?s election an Associate of the Academy.? Both items have strips of minor discoloration, otherwise they are in good condition, lightly aged and with postage folds. Both signed ?Devonshire.? Eastlake is not named as the recipient of the first letter, but given the context his identity is apparent. ONE: 7 October 1827; Chatsworth. 2pp, 12mo. On first leaf of bifolium. The letter suggests that Eastlake has been paid twice. Begins: ?Dear Sir / I am surprized & embarrassed by the letter I have today received from you, and I can only account for my bankers conduct by my having employed a secretary at the very busy time of last spring, who may have sent another order for 250?, I having forgot having done so myself. / I have written to Messieurs Snow for an explanation of this & they will give information to Messieurs Harman. / Sir Thomas Lawrence who is here is going to repair a slight injury done to the picture on the journey. I have hung it in a very good though temporary place, & I admire it more every day?. In 1837 the author of ?Modern Chatsworth; or, The Palace of the Peak? reported that the painting had recently been removed from the state drawing room at Chatsworth to the banqueting hall. TWO: 25 July 1852; Brighton. 1p, 4to. Written (for reasons explained in the text) in a very shaky hand. Eastlake would clearly like to retouch his painting, but the Duke is not inclined to let him. Reads: ?Dear Sir Charles / I should be willing to comply with a request of yours, but I do not like to remove Isadas [sic] from the position where he is seen and admired by thousands every year. But a stronger objection is that I never could consent to having the picture retouched or altered. It is valued by me, and accompanied by too many recollections & associations to permit that. Wishing to give you a [sic] immediate answer, I have used my paralytic left hand. / most sincerely yrs / Devonshire.?