| Collection | Victorian Additional Papers |
| Description | Moitessier apologises for his late reply to Ruland's letter. He was glad to hear that his first set of photographs found favour with the Prince Consort, since he had heard nothing since sending them. He is happy to undertake the new commission, but he points out that the Musée Fabre contains only two drawings attributed to Raphael: the ink drawing (of a man) and the head of the Virgin (Madonna Tempi), both as described by Ruland. The two others listed by Ruland are not in the museum and Ruland must have been misinformed.
Moitessier has, however, found a small drawing attributed to Raphael in the collection of the School of Medecine at Montpellier. On one side is a small study of washerwomen; on the other a woman with a distant view of the Castel Sant' Angelo. He will photograph this if the Prince wishes. But he is afraid he will not be allowed to take down the drawings in the Musée Fabre, so he will have to photograph them in situ, and will not be able to photograph the reverse of the ink drawing. He will await instructions before carrying out the work.
A note by Ruland records his reply sending an extract from Passavant and confirming that the School of Medecine's drawing should be photographed.
Moitessier was a scientist as well as a photographer: he signs himself 'Professeur agrégé et chef des travaux chimiques á la faculté de Médecine'. |