[ Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (1820-1877), architect and writer on art. ] Autograph Letter Signed ('M. Digby Wyatt') to the herald and playwright J. R. Planché, regarding C. R. Cockerell's theory on 'the Wells & other sculptures' at the Crystal Palace.

Author: 
Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (1820-1877), architect and writer on art [ James Robinson Planché [ J. R. Planché ] (1796-1880), playwright and herald; John Burley Waring; Charles Robert Cockerell ]
Publication details: 
54 Guildford Street [ London ]. 9 May 1857.
£120.00
SKU: 19806

3pp., 12mo. Bifolium. In good condition, lightly aged. The name of the addressee has been amended from 'J. B. Waring' to 'J. R. Planché Eqr.' In 1854 Wyatt and Waring had collaborated on four architectural guidebooks to the courts of the Crystal Palace at Sydenham, and the present item relates to sculptures present there. The letter beings iwth Wyatt thanking Planché for 'a copy of your interesting comments on Professor Cockerell's views with respect to the Wells & other sculptures', which he has read 'with care and interest'. They only serve to confirm the original impression which <?> in my mind when I first heard Cockerell promulgate his theory at one of the Academy lectures some 12 years ago, viz - that there existed no evidence worthy of credit for the clear identification of one quarter of the whole number of statues.' As 'Carter, Gough, and others' have 'failed altogether', and as Cockerell's theory has gone uncontradicted 'neither Waring nor I had any other alternative than to cite his work and his authority as all of any importance that had been written on the subject. | Should our handbook ever reach another edition it will be our duty to allude to that as doubtful which at the date of our publication had not been contravened.'