Letter from John Gibson to John Udny, containing information for Henry Farnum
January 9, 1850
Medium
Pen and black ink on blue paper
Dimensions
Sheet (folded in half): 9 11/16 × 7 3/8 in. (24.6 × 18.8 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. John De Witt Peltz, 1977
Accession Number
1977.382.14
Art Historical Context
Step into the intimate world of 19th correspondence with this letter from British sculptor John Gibson to Johnny, dated January , 1850. Penned with purpose, it relays key information intended for Henry Farnum, a glimpse into the networks of artists, patrons, and collectors who shaped the Victorian art scene. Folded neatly in half, the sheet measures just 9 11/16 × 7 3/8 inches (24.6 × 18.8 cm), evoking the portability of personal missives exchanged across continents. Crafted in pen and black ink on striking blue paper—a practical yet visually distinctive choice for drafts or informal notes—th...
About the Artist
John Gibson|Henry Farnum · 1790–1866
Outstanding Neoclassical sculptor who experimented with the ancient practice of coloring statues, e.g. his 'Tinted Venus' (1851). Flaxman encourgaged him to go to Rome, where he spent most of his life. He left his fortune to the National Gallery, London. British sculptor, active Rome. Comment on works: sculptor