William Theed, London, 12 A Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square to [John] Gibson

RA Collection: Archive

Archive context

Showing item 331 of 391 in this group

Reference code

GI/1/328

Title

William Theed, London, 12 A Henrietta Street, Cavendish Square to [John] Gibson

Date

09 Nov 1863

Level

Item

Extent & medium

1 piece

Content Description

Theed agrees to warn the Prince of Wales about the danger of rain falling on the 'Nymph and Cupid' in the glass house. He asks Gibson where else he thinks the statue might be placed. Theed mentions the poor state of Sir Charles [Eastlake's] health, although he had just received word of an improvement in his condition, and gives news of [William] Boxall. Theed had just returned from the inauguration of his terra cotta statue of the Prince Consort, perhaps the largest terra cotta that had ever been done. He concludes by describing a mechanical pedestal that was soon to be completed for the Prince of Wales in accordance with dimensions provided by Gibson. He thinks that Gibson will approve of the new method in England of turning statues mechanically, although his foreman feared that it would not be possible to adapt Gibson's own plan of pedestal and statue moving together, because of the thick carpets in use in that country. He incorporates a sketch of the pedestal within the text of the letter.