| Collection | Victorian Additional Papers |
| Description | Becker writes that Dr. Chrysander has forwarded Dr Härtel's letters (see 368 & 369) to him. He explains that for several years the Prince Consort has been engaged in assembling a complete collection of the best prints and other reproductions of Raphael's works, and was happy to find a 'fellow-believer' in Dr. Härtel. The Prince had the Raphael drawings in the Royal Library photographed with the intention of persuading other owners of significant collections of Raphael drawings to do likewise, and then to exchange copies.
As a result, the collections belonging to the Louvre, the Duke of Devonshire, the Düsseldorf Academy and the King of Saxony have been photographed already; those in Oxford, Lille and Florence are to be photographed next. In certain individual cases the photographer has been given permission to publish the photographs. 'The Prince, who knows from his own experience the yearning that inspires one to seek whatever is needed to complete such a collection', is pleased to send Dr. Härtel a full set of photographs of the drawings at Windsor, and Dr. Becker has added all the other photographs which are for sale, including those from the British Museum. |