“A very eminent literary personage of this country, and
an old friend of mine (since the negotiations at Ghent in 1814), came to see me
a few days ago. He looked over my books, and on seeing your supplemental work on Lorenzo the
Magnificent, begged me to lend it to him, to show it to M. Odevaere, the celebrated historical painter
of this country, at whose house my friend Mr. Cornellissen
was lodging, and who, it appears, was employed in a great composition painting,
founded on the conspiracy of the Pazzi and on your history. Of course I was
delighted to lend the book for such a purpose, though I value it too much, as a
present received from its illustrious author, to lend it on common occasions;
but the present one was so completely in accordance with your known devotion to
the arts, and, in fact, seemed to present so classic an opportunity of
realising one of the noblest objects of your labours, that I felt as if I were
serving you, and serving at the same time the republic of taste, in putting the
work into the hands of the eminent artist, Odevaere, the
spirited and worthy élève of David, who
had the courage to pronounce a spirited éloge over the mortal remains of his
gifted master, a few
| 356 | LIFE OF WILLIAM ROSCOE. |
“It seems that I have rendered to M. Odevaere a very great service, when I only hoped to be contributing to his literary enjoyment. He has acknowledged it by sending me the enclosed letter. It should have been sent to you the next day, had not a multitude of occupations prevented it. It would be defrauding you of your legitimate rights and gratifications, if this letter were kept in other hands.
“M. Odevaere is a most eminent painter, and is greatly patronised by the royal family here, as he was by Napoleon in Italy. His latest work, ‘The Last Day at Missolonghi,’ has gained him imperishable fame. So, my dear Sir, your enthusiastic friend and admirer is himself entitled to your respect for his own merits in his own beautiful pursuit and profession.”
