Transcription
Boston March 1852
Dr Sir
When in Florence in 1835, I / saw in the Studio of Mr. [Greenough] / the painting by [B—i?] (Painter to the / Grand Duke of Tuscany), of Columbus / going to Court to ask and in presenting / his comtemplated voyage to the Westward / with which I was much pleased + / was desirous of purchasing it _ thro’ / Greenough / I succeeded in purchasing the / painting, and became the acquainted / with the Artist, who told me he / was led the Subject by having shortly / before read your Columbus - the head / is the copy of that of Columbus which / I have seen I think in the Palace at / Florence _ the [Monk], had often sat / as a model, and was alive in 1835 _ the / [nog], is a favorite, or was, of the Painter / and who told me, he took him in
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His carriage to Leghorn, and made him / follow the Carriage on his return to / Florence, when he took [this] Portrait.
I have just given the painting to / my friend [?] [H?] Prescott, and have / thought you would like to have / a [requesite ??] Copy, which I sent / to Mr [F. Pasy] of N. York to be / forwarded to you –
With much respect, + the / hope that you would do me the / favor of calling on me, should you / visit Boston before I leave it for / the long journey -
I am
Your friend + servant
[T H Perkins]
Washington IrvingTranscriber
Kathryn AlexanderLanguage
English
