Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780–1867)
Letter from Ingres to Marie-Anne-Julie Forestier, 19 October 1806, page 3
Gift of the Fellows, 1968; MA 2553

In this long, melancholy note to his fiancée, Ingres laments his intense homesickness during his first days in Rome. He had arrived the previous week to begin his residency at the Villa Medici, after a long journey via Turin, Milan, Lodi, Piacenza, Parma, Reggio, Modena, Bologna, and finally Florence. He writes, "I lie down from nine at night until six in the morning, I do not sleep, I roll around in my bed, I cry, I think continuously of you...." Nine months later, Ingres would break his engagement, citing his unwillingness to return to Paris after the negative reviews his paintings had received at the Salon.

of your absence. Ah! dear friend, I am very unhappy, very unhappy, I can hardly bear it, and despite the wishes of Gerard, whom I appreciate because of the interest he takes in me, and of which I am proud because I believe I deserve it a little, I will find it impossible to stay even perhaps a year. Were I to wish to make a painting, I could not, because in Rome there are neither models, nor paints, nor canvases, etc. So, my dear friend, believe that I think and am mindful of my reputation, it is as precious to me as your love, it is for you that I love it, because it is you who inspires me, it is in your eyes that I want to appear great and be worthy of this heart that nothing can equal. Dear friend, depend on my conduct and my prudence, as I also depend on yours, and then I will do all that you want, you can only command me things worthy of your heart. I will obey you blindly in all and for all. I find it very sweet, dear, to be able to write you; you make me love this occupation that was once torture for me. However, I should stop reminding you how much I love you, were I to tell you till tomorrow, I would not tire of it. I kiss you, I cover you with kisses, unfortunately only in my thoughts a thousand times a day, and you do not even know it! Farewell, then, my dear beloved, farewell, let us hope in Divine Providence, which never abandons the good: Farewell, dear friend, my dear beloved, farewell, adieu, remember sometimes your faithful; write me, for charity, and remember me to our good Clotilde. I've been ten mortal days in Rome and I have no news from your parents. Ingres.