The Thorvaldsens Museum Archives

[...] Mr [John] Lough has also his own peculiar notions on this subject and has been here a year or so working with great rapidity without having seen a single studio nor will he allow any artist to enter his place so that he goes on entirely alone. A gentleman here to whom he had brought a letter of introduction too, told me that he offered to make him known to Thorvaldsen, thinking that Mr L might wish to consult the first sculptor of the age on his profession. Lough said, No Sir I never invited …. to my studio – now this is so contrary to the custom at Rome – some of the artists of different nations here visit each other’s studio – consult with one another there on what they do. I never model a work without consulting Thorvaldsen and others and have always found great benefit from this practice – it is combining together to advance art – where art is a mere trade this is not the practice. [...]