Letter from John Gibson to John Udny, containing information for Henry Farnum

Art Historical Context

Step into the intimate world of 19th correspondence with this letter from British sculptor John Gibson to Johnny, dated January , 1850. Penned with purpose, it relays key information intended for Henry Farnum, a glimpse into the networks of artists, patrons, and collectors who shaped the Victorian art scene. Folded neatly in half, the sheet measures just 9 11/16 × 7 3/8 inches (24.6 × 18.8 cm), evoking the portability of personal missives exchanged across continents. Crafted in pen and black ink on striking blue paper—a practical yet visually distinctive choice for drafts or informal notes—this manuscript highlights the artistry of handwriting in an era before typewriters. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department and gifted by Mrs. John De Witt Peltz in 1977, it exemplifies everyday ephemera elevated to cultural treasure. The tags "Correspondence" and "Women" nod to its role in relational histories, possibly touching on female figures in art circles. Though modest in scale, this letter underscores the behind-the-scenes exchanges that fueled artistic production, reminding us how words on paper bridged creative minds in 1850s Europe and America.

About the Artist

John Gibson|Henry Farnum · 1790–1866

Outstanding Neoclassical sculptor who experimented with the ancient practice of coloring statues, e.g. his 'Tinted Venus' (1851). Flaxman encourgaged him to go to Rome, where he spent most of his life. He left his fortune to the National Gallery, London. British sculptor, active Rome. Comment on works: sculptor