DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0408
364 HE OFFERS HIS FAUSTINA
Excellency, my humblest and most sincere recom-
mendations to your favour. I feel myself by the
grace of God somewhat better, and although I have
not yet recovered the full use of my limbs, yet the
little talent which God gave me is still undiminished,
and is, as ever, at the command of Your Excellency.
I have almost finished the drawing of the Storia of
Comus for Your Excellency, and hope to go on with
it as my fancy is able to help me. Illustrissima
Madonna mia, I commend myself to you, because for
many months past I have not been able to obtain a
farthing, and am in great need, and feel myself sorely
embarrassed, since, never expecting these bad times,
and being desirous not to remain a vagabond on the
face of the earth, I had bought a house for the price
of 340 ducats, payable in three instalments. Now
the first term is ended, and I am pressed on all sides
by creditors, and, as Your Excellency knows, I can
neither sell nor mortgage anything now, and I have
many other debts ; so it has come into my mind to
help myself as best I can by parting from my dearest
possessions, and, since I have been often asked at
different times, and by many persons of note, to sell
my dear Faustina of antique marble. Necessity,
which compels us to do many things, prompts me to
write to Your Excellency on the subject, since, if I
must part from it, I would rather you should have it
than any other lord or lady in the world. The price
is 100 ducats, which I might have had many times
over from great masters ; and I beg of you to let me
know your intentions, and commend myself infinite
times to Your Excellency.—Your servant, Andreas
Mantinia.” 1
1 D’ Arco, Arte e Artefici, ii. 61.
Excellency, my humblest and most sincere recom-
mendations to your favour. I feel myself by the
grace of God somewhat better, and although I have
not yet recovered the full use of my limbs, yet the
little talent which God gave me is still undiminished,
and is, as ever, at the command of Your Excellency.
I have almost finished the drawing of the Storia of
Comus for Your Excellency, and hope to go on with
it as my fancy is able to help me. Illustrissima
Madonna mia, I commend myself to you, because for
many months past I have not been able to obtain a
farthing, and am in great need, and feel myself sorely
embarrassed, since, never expecting these bad times,
and being desirous not to remain a vagabond on the
face of the earth, I had bought a house for the price
of 340 ducats, payable in three instalments. Now
the first term is ended, and I am pressed on all sides
by creditors, and, as Your Excellency knows, I can
neither sell nor mortgage anything now, and I have
many other debts ; so it has come into my mind to
help myself as best I can by parting from my dearest
possessions, and, since I have been often asked at
different times, and by many persons of note, to sell
my dear Faustina of antique marble. Necessity,
which compels us to do many things, prompts me to
write to Your Excellency on the subject, since, if I
must part from it, I would rather you should have it
than any other lord or lady in the world. The price
is 100 ducats, which I might have had many times
over from great masters ; and I beg of you to let me
know your intentions, and commend myself infinite
times to Your Excellency.—Your servant, Andreas
Mantinia.” 1
1 D’ Arco, Arte e Artefici, ii. 61.