DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52801#0036
32
THE ALTIERI CLAUDES.
It has at all times been difficult to obtain per-
mission to export works of a high order from the
Roman State. While the French army was in
Rome that difficulty was greatly diminished ; but
in general, as being attended with the risk of
seizure of the property itself, works of that de-
scription were often obliged to be sent away to the
nearest port, as opportunity might offer, and some-
times forwarded to this country without the proper
documents or advices accompanying them.
In the present instance, the ship by which these
pictures was sent to England arrived at one of the
out-ports without the proper advices having ac-
companied them, and they were lodged in the
Custom-house until they should be regularly
claimed. Some time had elapsed without this being
the case, and it became a question as to selling
them for the purpose of paying the necessary ex-
penses, &c. The pictures were accordingly put
up for sale, and they were actually bought for the
sum of £1200 sterling, before the real proprietors,
or their agents, had received advice of their haying
arrived in this country. They were, however, of
too much importance, even in the eyes of the un-
learned in art, to pass long unnoticed, and those
acting for the proprietors having come to a know-
ledge of their situation, gained possession of their
property, and had them transmitted to London,
THE ALTIERI CLAUDES.
It has at all times been difficult to obtain per-
mission to export works of a high order from the
Roman State. While the French army was in
Rome that difficulty was greatly diminished ; but
in general, as being attended with the risk of
seizure of the property itself, works of that de-
scription were often obliged to be sent away to the
nearest port, as opportunity might offer, and some-
times forwarded to this country without the proper
documents or advices accompanying them.
In the present instance, the ship by which these
pictures was sent to England arrived at one of the
out-ports without the proper advices having ac-
companied them, and they were lodged in the
Custom-house until they should be regularly
claimed. Some time had elapsed without this being
the case, and it became a question as to selling
them for the purpose of paying the necessary ex-
penses, &c. The pictures were accordingly put
up for sale, and they were actually bought for the
sum of £1200 sterling, before the real proprietors,
or their agents, had received advice of their haying
arrived in this country. They were, however, of
too much importance, even in the eyes of the un-
learned in art, to pass long unnoticed, and those
acting for the proprietors having come to a know-
ledge of their situation, gained possession of their
property, and had them transmitted to London,