23, Mount Street,
Grosvenor Square,
W.

TELEPHONE N° 3854.

25^th July 1893

Sir
Royal Academy of Arts

We have the honour to report that we have
examined the walls and ceilings of the Galleries and beg to
say that we are willing to undertake the works now proposed
to be carried out on the same terms as in 1881, but we think
it right to point out that since that year the wages of
Painters and other Trades have increased so that we venture
to hope that the Council will permit us to advance our charges
so as to cover this increase which we calculate to be 6 per cent
above the quotations of 1881 and the Estimate we now submit
incudes this additional wage.
The painting of the five additional Galleries is calculated
on the same Schedule: - Here we should state that as the
whole of the gilding was double gilt in 1881_ it will only be
necessary on this occasion to thoroughly wash and touch up the
gilt ornaments, a considerable saving will thereby be effected.
We understand that it is in contemplation to add a certain
amount of gilding in the Cornice of N° 6 Gallery and to divide
the end walls between the wagon roof and the Cornice into

panels, the cost of this is also included in our Estimate.
We are of opinion that the ornamental borders (painted)
and of course the gilding in the Central Hall can be saved
and this has been duly noted. And our opinion has also
been asked as to washing the ceilings only of the Galleries.
We beg therefore to say that we feel sure that such an
attempt would produce a very unsatisfactory result and our
opinion is strenghened by an examination of the ceiling of
N°9 Gallery which we understand was partly washed last
year and shews a very uneven and streaky surface _ and we
may add that as the Galleries 1.2.3 and 4 are in a far worse
and blacker condition than N°9 so would the attempt to wash
these ceilings be less satisfactory than is that in N°9 Gallery:-
we would also explain that scaffolding would have to be erected
either for painting or washing and this incurs a considerable
amount and which would probably be a wasted expense as the
work would have to be redone in paint after the lapse perhaps of
a year. In the hope of being favoured with your instructions
We are Sir
Your obedient Servants
Holland & Sons.

J. Callcott Horsley Esq^r R.A
Treasurer and Trustee
Royal Academy of Arts