MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. BULLETIN 85 
but not as the undaunted sea-farer. Piloty had chosen a different 
conceiving which I liked much better and when I have expressed 
the desire of seeing Columbus executed in bronze I meant by this | 
to represent him as the energetic and undaunted sea-farer. If 
my letter said something else it certainly was the fault of my im- 
perfect translation for I would not have taken the liberty to sug- 
gest to you the simple copy of a picture for a statue, as I did not 
doubt that you wanted an original work for your great idea, in 
the way as you have chosen an entirely new and original repre- 
sentation for Shakespeare and Humboldt by which you have ob- 
tained great applause both in America and in Europe, and_par- 
ticularly in Germany. Since that time I have earnestly studied 
the question, have read all the works affording sources about the 
costume of the time and about the person of Columbus, and if my 
sketch therefore has turned out somewhat different than Piloty’s 
picture which in the first rank is contrived with consideration of 
the effect of the colors, it anyhow had the same idea for its basis 
in the way Piloty has first given it in his picture. Piloty him- 
self will confirm that there are other conditions for the plastic 
execution and if you wish I could easily send you Piloty’s own 
opinion about it, if you attach any importance to it. What I 
have altered I have only done out of conscientious consideration 
for all the circumstances. I think I have never ill advised you, 
and here in Germany at least, where the artists of Munich have 
unanimously elected me for their president and where at present 
their confidence has placed me in the rank of the first president of 
the International Exhibition of Art, people think so much of my 
judgment that it was certainly not immodest on my part when I 
thought I should furnish you with an original sketch after my own 
studies and not with a simple copy. 
“But as I said at the beginning of my letter, you may please 
yourself about it. I shall certainly copy Piloty’s picture as well 
as possible and have only to beg you to inform me at your 
earliest. convenience of your definite opinion to enable me to go on 
with the work. In the relievo I find the precise copy of Piloty’s 
picture very suitable and very easy to execute; that certainly will 
turn out to advantage. 
“Beethoven is modeled. The photographs I have received, the 
pedestal looks better than I expected. I am just working at 
Richard Wagner. As to the expense of the bustoes, I may inform 
you that I can save by each 50 dollars, consequently I get only 
700 dollars for one busto, as I have got by a lucky chance two 
beautiful marble blocks, each 50 dollars cheaper than I reckoned.” 
“Reichenhall, Aug. 23, ’83. 
“% * ee ee i ee * ee See ee * * 
Complying with your wish I am to take as a model for Columbus 
the figure of that one on Piloty’s picture, but only on one condi- 
tion, that I may have as much liberty as possible in the concep- 
tion of it, that I may alter what is absolutely necessary for a 
monumental statue. I would rather renounce the execution of the 
commission if you do not agree to this condition for I will never 
undertake anything that might not succeed. I esteem more my 
reputation as an artist than any sum that could be gained in 
such a way. And at the same time Director Piloty would make 
a protest against my copying his picture so very accurately. As 
a relief I shall copy the picture exactly, nothing could be said 
against that. : : : 
“The bust of Beethoven is finished in marble, but if you like I 
will delay sending it to you until that of Richard Wagner is 
