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Document number: 6156
Date: 19 Jun 1848
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: JONES Calvert Richard
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: LA48-034
Last updated: 27th February 2010

Heathfield.
June 19. 1848

My dear Sir,

I recieved [sic], with thanks, the parcel of Talbotypes <1> so long desired. I was much struck with them, and pleased that they turned out so well: some of them much better than I expected; the Florence statuary groups are excellent, and the Neapolitan fishing boat <2> splendid, some of the small groups are also most lifelike.

I cannot understand the apathy (I do not say of the contemptible public) but of the numerous good judges of art, professional and amateur, towards these things, as they are not only admirable but of the highest use: as for myself I can ponder over them again and again with new wonder and instruction, and the only two authorities as Artists with whom I have conferred, Penry Williams <3> and J. D. Harding, <4> both first rate judges, fully confirm my views about them. Better and more certain Paper wd be a very grand assistance to the interests of the art, and if increased cheapness cd be attained, it wd be a great thing, as they certainly are rather dear for any objects to command a general sale.

If you can lay your hands upon three near views of Veranda <5> I shall be very much obliged for the copies, as I have not had them yet, and though they are not of general interest, they are very valuable to me as the old house has been pulled down.

I shall be glad to hear if the paper expressly for Negatives has been ordered, and remain

yours very truly
Calvert R. Jones.


Notes:

1. Jones was sending his negatives back to Britain tp be printed by Nicolaas Henneman, so these would have been the first prints that he had seen. He was allowing WHFT to purchase the negatives that he chose, and WHFT in turn loaned these to Henneman to make prints for commercial sale.

2. For this image see ‘Neapolitan Fishing Boats’, reproduced in Larry J. Schaaf, Sun Pictures Catalogue Five: The Reverend Calvert R. Jones (New York: Hans P. Kraus, Jr, 1990), p. 36.

3. Penry Williams (1802–1885), Welsh painter, who spent most of his life in Rome.

4. James Duffield Harding (1797–1863), painter, writer on art theory and teacher of among others John Ruskin and Jones himself.

5. Former home of Jones at Swansea.

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