Lot 1485: CRAWFORD, THOMAS

1485. THOMAS CRAWFORD (1813? - 1857) Irish- American sculptor; studied in Rome under Thorwaldsen; renowned for his work on the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, especially the bronze doors, and the bronze figure of Liberty which surmounts the dome. Scarce and fine content A.L.S. "Crawford" and "Craw" 3pp., 4to., Rome, "Thursday Oct. 1838", to his friend George W. Greene, the American Consul at Rome, who was responsible for finding emergency medical care for the sculptor a year earlier, thus saving his life. The sculpture writes a tongue-in-check, sometimes sarcastic letter to his friend, in part: "Caro Greene - 'Thank him for thus much and address as above !... I swear by the shadow of a hungry man that I would follow your directions to the letter and send you two lines...I think you have commenced rather early in forwarding your impertinence to a representative of the U.S. (not in Congress assembled but) in dire anger at the liberty you have taken to address thus familiarly the CONSUL for the time being...Neither have I rec'd any directions from you concerning the cash...I have submitted the drawing of a fragment found in the Academy of Fine Arts to the inspection of some of the most profound Antiquries [sic] in Rome...A certain Mr. Fill-lips was presented with no less that 12 of those decorations for his usefull services in endeavoring to introduce to his Countrymen a taste for the Histronic [historic] branches of Painting...". In a postscript, he concludes: "Mind your leg Mr. Philipot and make your appearance here as soon as possible / Yours Craw". Old plastic tape repairs at seal tear on address leaf and at three fold break edges, otherwise very good. Crawford's affection for George Greene led to his sculpting a bust of him. $400 - 600