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Charles Sumner to Thomas Crawford, 30 January 1844
Manuscript letter
Thomas Crawford's sculpture “Orpheus,” broken in transit, is restored; comments on Crawford’s other works in Boston homes.
[Addition at top of page]: “I have not thanked you, as I now do, for the first number of yr works, which was very interesting. Brackett, a young sculptor of Boston, whose works I have tried in vain to like, for he is poor & kindly in nature, has attempted a brochure like yours. The letter-press by friends is tame. I wish they were better, so that I could conscientiously give them one word of hearty praise.”
Boston Jan 30th ‘44
[In a different hand]: “ansd March 13-44. Rome”
My dear Crawford,
I trust you have not thought me remiss beyond pardon, because I have not written you before with regard to the Orpheus. Howe has, perhaps, given you a message which I sent through him. You already know that it has been most successfully restored. A person, whose attention was not particularly directed to the scars, would not discern any signs of the accident. I was gratified by the fondness & admiration which Dexter shewed for the statue. He was proud of being allowed to work upon it, &, I think, brought to it the fidelity of a labor of love. The statue now stands most beautifully in the room prepared for it. The Committee have determined not to exhibit it till Spring, for in [p. 2] our very cold winter, & with streets blocked up with ice, people might not be disposed to take the long walk to the Athenaeum. In the spring it will be opened, &, I fell sure, will receive unbounded admiration. The few who have been admitted to see it privately have expressed an uniform opinion of the genius & merit it shews.
I hear through Howe & Charles Pekins of yr new work, Adam & Eve, & congratulate you upon yr splendid success. Both write about it in terms of the warmest admiration. So, the prophecy is coming to pass! The laurel is suspended over yr head. Fame & fortune are becoming yr hand-maidens.
[p. 3] I have not yet seen the pieces belonging to J. Phillips or J. Parker; but hear others who have seen them, speak of them as I could wish. In my earliest hour of leisure, when I may wander abroad by day-light, I shall call & see them. Mrs Phillips expressed herself to me in terms of great delight with regard to her Cupid, (not her Jonathan) & seemed proud of having it in her house. She has some very good pictures, the spoils of Italy, so that you are in good society.
You will see much of my friends this winter in Rome. I long to refresh my parched lips at the living fountains of art—bursting forth from dead Rome, & should have [crossed out: added] delight in joining Howe & his lovely groupe; but I must try to see with their eyes. Greene has given you fresh tidings [p. 4] of American life, & of our circle, yr friends, here. He must have found us dull & prosaic, & I doubt not hurried back to Rome with a most willing heart. Who would not, who had such a loadstar there, as his dear wife? – Give him my love. He must report his arrival.
Ever very sincerely yours,
Charles Sumner
[Addressed to]:
À Monsieur
Monsieur Thomas Crawford
Café Greco
Via dei Condotti
à Rome
[In a different hand]: “Charles Sumner. Boston. / Jany 30. 1844.”
[various black and red ink stamps]
[Addition at top of page]: “I have not thanked you, as I now do, for the first number of yr works, which was very interesting. Brackett, a young sculptor of Boston, whose works I have tried in vain to like, for he is poor & kindly in nature, has attempted a brochure like yours. The letter-press by friends is tame. I wish they were better, so that I could conscientiously give them one word of hearty praise.”
Boston Jan 30th ‘44
[In a different hand]: “ansd March 13-44. Rome”
My dear Crawford,
I trust you have not thought me remiss beyond pardon, because I have not written you before with regard to the Orpheus. Howe has, perhaps, given you a message which I sent through him. You already know that it has been most successfully restored. A person, whose attention was not particularly directed to the scars, would not discern any signs of the accident. I was gratified by the fondness & admiration which Dexter shewed for the statue. He was proud of being allowed to work upon it, &, I think, brought to it the fidelity of a labor of love. The statue now stands most beautifully in the room prepared for it. The Committee have determined not to exhibit it till Spring, for in [p. 2] our very cold winter, & with streets blocked up with ice, people might not be disposed to take the long walk to the Athenaeum. In the spring it will be opened, &, I fell sure, will receive unbounded admiration. The few who have been admitted to see it privately have expressed an uniform opinion of the genius & merit it shews.
I hear through Howe & Charles Pekins of yr new work, Adam & Eve, & congratulate you upon yr splendid success. Both write about it in terms of the warmest admiration. So, the prophecy is coming to pass! The laurel is suspended over yr head. Fame & fortune are becoming yr hand-maidens.
[p. 3] I have not yet seen the pieces belonging to J. Phillips or J. Parker; but hear others who have seen them, speak of them as I could wish. In my earliest hour of leisure, when I may wander abroad by day-light, I shall call & see them. Mrs Phillips expressed herself to me in terms of great delight with regard to her Cupid, (not her Jonathan) & seemed proud of having it in her house. She has some very good pictures, the spoils of Italy, so that you are in good society.
You will see much of my friends this winter in Rome. I long to refresh my parched lips at the living fountains of art—bursting forth from dead Rome, & should have [crossed out: added] delight in joining Howe & his lovely groupe; but I must try to see with their eyes. Greene has given you fresh tidings [p. 4] of American life, & of our circle, yr friends, here. He must have found us dull & prosaic, & I doubt not hurried back to Rome with a most willing heart. Who would not, who had such a loadstar there, as his dear wife? – Give him my love. He must report his arrival.
Ever very sincerely yours,
Charles Sumner
[Addressed to]:
À Monsieur
Monsieur Thomas Crawford
Café Greco
Via dei Condotti
à Rome
[In a different hand]: “Charles Sumner. Boston. / Jany 30. 1844.”
[various black and red ink stamps]
Archives Number: 1002/9.3-157#010
U. S. National Park Service
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Courtesy of National Park Service, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site; Archives Number 1002/9.3-157#010
Public domain
Collected Materials (1002/009), (LONG-SeriesName)
, Miscellaneous Famous People (1002/009.003), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) to Thomas Crawford (1814-1857), 1839-1850 (1002/009.003-157), (LONG-FileUnitName)
, Miscellaneous Famous People (1002/009.003), (LONG-SubseriesName)
, Sumner, Charles (1811-1874) to Thomas Crawford (1814-1857), 1839-1850 (1002/009.003-157), (LONG-FileUnitName)
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Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Code: LONG
Longfellow House - Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Latitude: 42.3769989013672, Longitude: -71.1264038085938
Title: Finding Aid to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana (1881-1950) Papers, 1744-1972 (bulk dated: 1850-1950)
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLD
URL: https://www.nps.gov/long/learn/historyculture/archives.htm#HWLD
2023/01/06
01/30/1844
Manuscript letter in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Dana Papers, Series IX. Collected Materials, C. Miscellaneous Famous People. (1002/9.3-157#010)
Public Can View
Organization: Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
Address: 105 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
Email: LONG_archives@nps.gov
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