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| Title |
Thomas Jefferson |
| Number |
55011 |
| Size |
7.75" x 3.75" |
| Date |
February 15, 1820 |
| Place |
Monticello, Virginia |
| Category |
Signers of the Declaration |
| Price |
$19,000.00 |
A compassionate Jefferson sends $400 for the wives of Italian sculptors Michele and Giacomo Raggi to join their husbands in America as they carved the Ionic and Corinthian capitals on the columns of the Rotunda of the University of Virginia
Autograph Letter Signed “Th: Jefferson,” one page, 7.75” x 3.75”. Monticello, February 15, 1820. To John Vaughan. Light toning at perimeter and light show-through of docketing on verso. Darkly penned and signed by Jefferson. Fine condition.
In full, “I yesterday took the liberty of inclosing a draft for 400.D. with a request to remit it to Mr Appleton, and promised by the ensuing mail to send the letters of advice for him as to it’s [sic] disposition. This I now do, and therefore pray you to forward them to him with the remittance, and repeat to you my affectionate and respectful salutations.”
John Vaughan (1756-1841) was an English wine merchant and long-time treasurer and librarian for the American Philosophical Society.
Thomas Appleton was U.S. Consul General in Leghorn (Livorno), Italy. He had recommended to Jefferson sculptors Michele and Giacomo Raggi who had arrived from Italy in June 1819. Jefferson’s February 1820 letters show his dedication to the University of Virginia and compassion. “I know your love of science, and therefore set you down as one of the patrons and wellwishers of our University,” he wrote to Vaughan. “I inclose ...400.Dollars, which sum I pray you to remit to Thomas Appleton of Leghorn. It is on account of Michele & Giacomo Raggi, two sculptors from that place now carving our Ionic & Corinthian capitels [sic] for the purpose of bringing their wives over…”
Jefferson wrote Appleton, “The two Raggis are now at work with us. They could not in the beginning break themselves at once to the great differences of habits manners, living, & language here from those to which they had been habituated all their lives. They are now however much more contented, and I think they have made up their minds to continue and work on their own account, when done with us, and they desire therefore to have their wives to come over. For this purpose I have placed 400. D. in the hands of Mr John Vaughan with a request that he will remit it to you. when received, you will be so good as to deliver one half to the wife of Michele Raggi, the other half to the wife of Giacomo...”
Jefferson later wrote Michele, “On the 19th. of Feb. 1819. yourself and your relation Giacomo Raggi entered into a Notorial contract in Leghorn, with Mr. Appleton, acting in my name, on behalf of the University of Virginia, to come to Virginia, and continue in our service as Sculptor for the term of three years from that date … when afterwards you both became desirous that your wives should come to you, we remitted to Mr Appleton 400. D. the sum you desired, to enable them to come. They declined coming. Yourself became uneasy & desponding, declared you could not continue here according to your contract, without your wife, and solicited to be discharged from your obligation … during the 15 months you were here, for this you know, we have nothing to shew but a single Ionic capitel, and an unfinished Corinthian…”
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