No. 410 of 10319
Sender Date Recipient
Bertel Thorvaldsen [+]

Sender’s Location

Rom

27.10.1804 [+]

Dating based on

Dateringen fremgår ikke af brevudkastet, men da pesten i Livorno omtales, er udkastet skrevet i efteråret 1804. Den præcise dato skyldes dernæst Schubarts svarbrev af 2.11.1804, hvor modtagelsen af Thorvaldsens brev nævnes med dets dato.

Herman Schubart [+]

Recipient’s Location

Montenero

Information on recipient

Ingen udskrift.

Abstract

Thorvaldsen worries that the yellow fever in the area of Leghorn will affect the Schubarts.

See Original [Translation]

Det giør mig inderlig und at Deres Exellenze nu er paa Monte Nero da man her taller om at den Gule Feber er i Livorno

[på hovedet i forhold til ovenstående:]

Det gjorde mig inderligt unt at Deres Exellenze nu er paa Monte nero, da man nesten ikke taller om andet her en som Pest i Livorno Jo mer ieg hør tale derom jo mer smerter det mig at tenkke Deres Exsellenze er der mellem en saa falig Sydom, noget har det trøsted mig – de Brev – den efterretning ieg har faaet hos Hr Baron Honbolt fra Dem at Sydomen ikke er saa stor som man her udbreeder den men dog er jeg bange at Deres Exellence ikke er frygtsom nogk og vaager for meget. Hver saa God og Gleed mig med et par Ord fra Dem og lad mig hvide vorledes det gaar Dem og Deres gode Kone om vi dog snart skal have den Glæde at see Dem i Rom

[for sig på den anden halvdel af arket:]

Det er mig ikke muligt at kunde skrive Hvad ieg føler

General Comment

This draft is very characteristic of Thorvaldsen’s writing process and his attitude to committing his thoughts to paper generally. His dyslexia stands out clearly in the inconsistent and phonetic spellings.
In addition to the spelling, the disposition of the text also causes him problems: He begins his draft once, turns the paper upside down and begins again. This is followed by a sigh, complaining that he cannot express himself clearly in writing.
Then (or perhaps before) he starts from the last sentence and writes another, shorter draft, which is not finished either. There may well have been even more drafts.
It is clear that the process caused Thorvaldsen difficulties, but we know from Schubart’s answer of 2.11.1804 that he finally managed to send off a letter after all.

Archival Reference
m28, nr. 108
Document Type
Draft, autograph
Thiele
Gengivet hos Thiele I, p. 251.
Subjects
Thorvaldsen's Letter Writing Process · Thorvaldsen's Spoken and Written Language
Persons
Wilhelm von Humboldt · Jacqueline Schubart
Last updated 29.06.2015 Print