Lettre autographe signée adressée à un bienfaiteur romain, Madrid, 19 août 1776. Très rare lettre autographe signée en italien à un bienfaiteur à Rome, Mengs le remerciant pour les bons souvenirs qu’il garde de Mengs et lui disant qu’il est désolé de ne pouvoir rien faire pour montrer sa gratitude. Il espère venir à Rome dans quelques mois, bien qu’il n’ait pas encore reçu son permis de cours, mais il espère que Sa Majesté ne retirera pas sa parole royale. Il demande de transmettre ses compliments au Cardinal Archinto, s’il devait le rencontrer. Autograph letter signed in italian to a Benefactor in Rome. Thanking him for the good memories he has of Mengs and saying he is sorry that he cannot do anything to show his gratitude. He hopes to come to Rome in a few months time although he has still not received his licence for lecturing but he hopes that his Majesty will not withdraw his royal word. Asking to please pass his compliments to Cardinal Archinto, if he should happen to meet him. Le ringrazio infinitamente della memoria che ha di me, solamente mi dispiace non poterle mostrare la mia gratitudine. Spero fra poche mesi tronare a Roma, ben che ancora non ho la licenza per dispacio, ma spero che S : M : non retinera la Sual Parola. Se a CAso havesse occasione di vedere S : E : il Sig(nor) e Cardinale Archinto la prego porgele li miei Osequiosi Complimenti. ». Au moment de la lettre, Mengs était peintre de la Cour du roi d’Espagne Carlos III et vivait à Madrid depuis 1760. Mengs avait toujours été fasciné par la Ville éternelle. Il séjourna à plusieurs reprises à Rome et y mourut finalement d’une pneumonie. At the time of the letter Mengs was a painter to the Cort of the King of Spai, Carlos III and had been living in Madrid since 1760. Mengs had always been fascinated by the Eternal City. He stayed repeadly in Rome and eventually died there of pneumonia.
