[draft] [Ozias Humphry], to [Charles Rainsford]

RA Collection: Archive

Reference code

HU/1/134

Title

[draft] [Ozias Humphry], to [Charles Rainsford]

Date

[1773]

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Content Description

Describes the journey to Rome; Romney caught a sore throat at Lyon and was not able to traverse the alpine passes, so they progressed via Marseilles and Nice instead; the consul at Nice, Mr. Davison; was very kind; he has enjoyed travelling under the Duke of Gloucester's protection; he passed Rainsford's letter to Sir John Dick at Leghorn; at Florence he saw saw the celebrated Mrs. Durazzi and other Genoese beauties; he also records Zoffany at work on his picture in the Tribuna of the Uffizi, describes its general composition, and that at the foreground there are many portraits of English gentlemen who have passed through Florence.

On arrival in Rome he passed the Duke's letter to Mr. Jenkins immediately, but was confused to find that none of the letters to Cardinal Albani, Prince Aldobrandini or the Governor of Rome mentioned the Duke's wish for him to paint the Pope; he is overwhelmed by the buildings and pictures in Rome and will work to profit from his chance to study them.