Autograph letter signed : Florence, to Catherine Alexander, Countess of Caledon, 1828 April 18.

Writing of her husband Augustus Callcott's negotiations with a dealer named Wallis (probably George Augustus Wallis) over the price of a painting by Anthony van Dyck; describing the painting: "It is a lady & child both standing up at full length the lady in crimson brocade with grey ruff & trimmings the child in garter blue & gold -- It has been repaired but not so as to affect it seriously as far as Mr. Callcott can judge from the present state of the picture which is fresh varnished"; describing their efforts to find paintings for Lord Caledon: "We have been in every house & shop where we could hear of pictures to be seen or sold but the only things Mr. Calcott has seen worth Lord Caledon's attention are a pieta Perugino -- & a Raffaelle of so early a date that it might pass for the work of his Master but which they say they will furnish documents to prove to be his work & one of those mentioned by Vasari. It is now the property of Nucchi the engraver & picture dealer in the Piazza della Trinità he talks of 500 luigi for it & of 300 for an Andrea del Sarto not a good one at all -- The possessor of the Perugino asks at present three thousand Roman scudi for it"; characterizing these prices as very high and the paintings as not particularly good; recommending Nucchi (or Nocchi) as "a most intelligent person in everything concerning the Prints & the pictures of all periods in this City"; adding "I know that pictures have sold out of the palazzo Strozzi -- if you could get the only remaining good one -- the child painted by Titian it would be the finest image that has been taken to England for this many a day. Mr. Callcott says this is all true but laughs at the idea of being able to get it"; urging her to "pray pray as you love the Arts what ever pictures you buy let them come to London untouched by the Italian restorers as they call themselves"; telling her that that they are just about to travel to Pisa and Genoa, and they will write from the latter place about the paintings available there; discussing how they should proceed regarding the Van Dyck; mentioning a concert she and her husband had attended the previous evening.