DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66024#0263
MEMORANDUM OF PAINTINGS
149
Naples.
Naples.
Oct. 1785.
Lady Foster's
portrait.
Naples.
Oct. 1785.
him to change that stained garment for a clean one, for he was attending
at the election of the Ediles, where a riot ensued, and his garment got
stained by the blood of a man who was wounded whilst close to him.
The picture portrays Tullia fainting and a few maidens are assisting her
and expelling the slave.
A small half length portrait of the Royal Princess Donna Maria Teresa.
The two above mentioned historical pictures were paid a little more than
the usual price of 60 guineas each; in payment for the small portrait of
the Princess and also for having given a few drawing lessons to the two
Princesses, her Majesty the Queen gave Angelica, when she left, a
beautiful cross set in diamonds, the use of the court carriage and an
apartment in the Palazzo Francavilla for the whole time she remained
in Naples—Therefore for the two historical pictures with their frames,
the expenses of wooden cases and transport from Rome to Naples, a
total sum of 1122 neapolitan ducats was paid, plus the diamond cross
and the other things above mentioned.
For the Prince Youssoupoff of Russia a picture 4 English feet by 3 feet 6
with figures representing Ovid at Pontus, lying on his couch nearing his
end and writing his letter to his wife, he is supported by the Genius of
Poetry, and love is breaking his bow in half, the cause of his misfortune
having been his writing “ De Arte Amandi.” One sees in the back-
ground a cold and sterile landscape and in his chamber there are three
small silver statuettes representing Augustus, Livia and Tiberius, which
had been given to him from Rome as he himself mentions, Paid for on
nth January 1786. 100 Zecchini for the above mentioned. A small
picture of 2 feet 6 by 1 foot 6; representing Hymen caressing some
doves; and other symbolical emblems. Paid for on 29th April. 1786.
40 Zecchini.
For Don Nicolas Vicenzio, attorney general of Naples, a small picture of
about 1 foot with one figure representing Saint Mary Eqiziaca (sic) in a
grotto in the desert adoring the cross. Given to the above.
For Lady [Elizabeth] Foster, her portrait,1 half length figure to below
the knees, sitting in a boscage; in the distance one sees the Isola d’lschia
—on canvas, 4 feet by 3 feet 6, The head was painted at Naples and
the remainder finished after at Rome—120 Zecchini.
On 2nd August 1793 received from Mr Jenkins on behalf of Lady E. Foster
for payment 50 L stg—exchange being 49J
For the Countess Skavronsky of Russia wife of Count Skavronsky of Russia,
Minister at Naples. [Count Paul Skavronsky]
The portrait of the said Countess 2 and of her little daughter age 4 years.
The mother is sitting at the foot of a tree in a park just over half length
figure, the little girl, full length figure, sitting next to her mother playing
1 Belongs to the Marquis of Bristol, and hangs at Ickworth.
2 In the Memoirs of Count Roger de Damas (1787-1806) it is stated: “ Potemkin’s affection for the
daughters of his sister Helen and Vassili Engelhardt was carried to excess. There were six of them :
Anna (1740-1820); Varvava (1750-1815), married to Prince Serge Galitzine; Catherine (1761-1829),
married to Count Paul Skavronski, who was Ambassador at Naples; Tatiana (1767-1841) married to Lieut.-
General M. S. Potemkin, and afterwards to Prince N. Youssoupoff.” “ Prince Potemkin brought another of
his nieces to see me. She had come to spend a few days with him on her way to Naples, where her husband
was Minister, and he did not wish, he said, that I should be deprived of seeing one of the prettiest women
in the Empire. She was Countess Skavronsky.”
Note.—Ivan Dolgorouki says: “She was the nicest of Marie Engelhardt’s daughters; her husband,
Count Paul Martinovitch Skavronsky, seems to have been chiefly known for his eccentricities.” A portrait
of the Countess by Angelica Kauffmann is reproduced in Les Portraits Russes des XVIIP et XIXe Siecles,
a very rare book, a copy of which is in the Library of the National Portrait Gallery.
149
Naples.
Naples.
Oct. 1785.
Lady Foster's
portrait.
Naples.
Oct. 1785.
him to change that stained garment for a clean one, for he was attending
at the election of the Ediles, where a riot ensued, and his garment got
stained by the blood of a man who was wounded whilst close to him.
The picture portrays Tullia fainting and a few maidens are assisting her
and expelling the slave.
A small half length portrait of the Royal Princess Donna Maria Teresa.
The two above mentioned historical pictures were paid a little more than
the usual price of 60 guineas each; in payment for the small portrait of
the Princess and also for having given a few drawing lessons to the two
Princesses, her Majesty the Queen gave Angelica, when she left, a
beautiful cross set in diamonds, the use of the court carriage and an
apartment in the Palazzo Francavilla for the whole time she remained
in Naples—Therefore for the two historical pictures with their frames,
the expenses of wooden cases and transport from Rome to Naples, a
total sum of 1122 neapolitan ducats was paid, plus the diamond cross
and the other things above mentioned.
For the Prince Youssoupoff of Russia a picture 4 English feet by 3 feet 6
with figures representing Ovid at Pontus, lying on his couch nearing his
end and writing his letter to his wife, he is supported by the Genius of
Poetry, and love is breaking his bow in half, the cause of his misfortune
having been his writing “ De Arte Amandi.” One sees in the back-
ground a cold and sterile landscape and in his chamber there are three
small silver statuettes representing Augustus, Livia and Tiberius, which
had been given to him from Rome as he himself mentions, Paid for on
nth January 1786. 100 Zecchini for the above mentioned. A small
picture of 2 feet 6 by 1 foot 6; representing Hymen caressing some
doves; and other symbolical emblems. Paid for on 29th April. 1786.
40 Zecchini.
For Don Nicolas Vicenzio, attorney general of Naples, a small picture of
about 1 foot with one figure representing Saint Mary Eqiziaca (sic) in a
grotto in the desert adoring the cross. Given to the above.
For Lady [Elizabeth] Foster, her portrait,1 half length figure to below
the knees, sitting in a boscage; in the distance one sees the Isola d’lschia
—on canvas, 4 feet by 3 feet 6, The head was painted at Naples and
the remainder finished after at Rome—120 Zecchini.
On 2nd August 1793 received from Mr Jenkins on behalf of Lady E. Foster
for payment 50 L stg—exchange being 49J
For the Countess Skavronsky of Russia wife of Count Skavronsky of Russia,
Minister at Naples. [Count Paul Skavronsky]
The portrait of the said Countess 2 and of her little daughter age 4 years.
The mother is sitting at the foot of a tree in a park just over half length
figure, the little girl, full length figure, sitting next to her mother playing
1 Belongs to the Marquis of Bristol, and hangs at Ickworth.
2 In the Memoirs of Count Roger de Damas (1787-1806) it is stated: “ Potemkin’s affection for the
daughters of his sister Helen and Vassili Engelhardt was carried to excess. There were six of them :
Anna (1740-1820); Varvava (1750-1815), married to Prince Serge Galitzine; Catherine (1761-1829),
married to Count Paul Skavronski, who was Ambassador at Naples; Tatiana (1767-1841) married to Lieut.-
General M. S. Potemkin, and afterwards to Prince N. Youssoupoff.” “ Prince Potemkin brought another of
his nieces to see me. She had come to spend a few days with him on her way to Naples, where her husband
was Minister, and he did not wish, he said, that I should be deprived of seeing one of the prettiest women
in the Empire. She was Countess Skavronsky.”
Note.—Ivan Dolgorouki says: “She was the nicest of Marie Engelhardt’s daughters; her husband,
Count Paul Martinovitch Skavronsky, seems to have been chiefly known for his eccentricities.” A portrait
of the Countess by Angelica Kauffmann is reproduced in Les Portraits Russes des XVIIP et XIXe Siecles,
a very rare book, a copy of which is in the Library of the National Portrait Gallery.