Rome
19th Novem:r 1819
[...] Thorwalsden has gone to visit his own native country, aft[er] an absence of twenty three years. When the Duke of Devonshire was here he gave Thorvaldsen an order for a Venus. She is represented as just having received the golden apple from Paris and taking up her mantle to go away thus [her har Gibson skitseret Thorvaldsens Venus, jf. A12]
This great artist has made a group of the three graces to rival those of Canova. The composition I like, at the same time perhaps the figures are too much apart, too much open space between them as for the forms they bear no comparison to Canova’s. Thorwal.n has a pupil an Italian his name is Tenerani and has made a Venus which I think would do honour to Praxiteles. Cupid is drawing the thorn out of her foot thus [Gibson har skitseret Teneranis skulptur]
The forms are divine, after seeing it in clay nearly finished, I felt a sinking at the heart and depression of mind for several days. [...]
