(3) Italian and Spanish:—Buonarotti (Michael Angelo), Leonardo da Vinci, Carlo Dolce, Correggio, Murillo, Strozzi, Salvator Rosa, &c. &c.
(4) French:—Bourdon, both the Poussins, Claude Lorraine, Watteau, &c. &c.
It is curious that no mention of so large a collection should appear in Buchanan's Memoirs of Paintings which is mainly devoted to the picture importations of that very period.
December 18th, 1804, Blake writes:—
Dear Sir,
I send, with some confidence, proofs of my two plates, having had the assistance and approbation of our good friend Flaxman. He approves much (I cannot help telling you so much) of the Shipwreck. Mrs. Flaxman also, who is a good conoisseur in engraving, has given her warm approbation, and to the plate of the Portrait, though not yet in so high finished a state. I am sure (mark my confidence) with Flaxman's advice, which he gives with all the warmth of friendship both to you and me, it must be soon a highly finished and properly finished print; but yet I must solicit for a supply of money, and hope you will be convinced that the labour I have used on the two plates has left me without any resource but that of applying to you. I am again in want of ten pounds hope that the size and neatness of my plate of the Shipwreck will plead for me the excuse for troubling you before it can be properly called finished, though Flaxman has already pronounced it so. I beg your remarks also on both my performances, as in their present state they will be capable of very much improvement from a few lucky or well advised touches. I cannot omit observing that the price Mr. Johnson gives for the plates of Fuseli's Shakespeare (the concluding numbers of which I now send) is twenty-five guineas each. On comparing them with mine of the Shipwreck, you will perceive that I have done my duty and put forth my whole strength.
Your beautiful and elegant daughter Venusea grows in our estimation on a second and third perusal. I have not yet received the History of Chichester. I mention this not because I would hasten its arrival before it is convenient, but fancy it may have miscarried. My wife joins me in wishing you a merry Christmas. Remembering our happy Christmas at lovely Felpham, our spirits seem still to hover round our sweet cottage and round the beautiful Turret. I have said seem, but am persuaded that distance is nothing but a phantasy. We
