Autograph letter to Martin Stutely, 1856

Sir James PENNETHORNE

Beschreibung

Letter of thanks for the award of a medal on his completion of Somerset House - autograph letter signed to Martin Stutely ("Martin J. Stuteley Esqr"): 1p. 8vo, Highgat[e], 28 July 1856. Traces of mounting at corners of verso; small tear at top right-hand corner, with some loss. "I have to acknowledge with many thanks your kindness in signing the paper which announces the intention of the Architects to present me with a Medal of Sir Wm Chambers - an honor far beyond my deserts, but which I cannot too highly prize." James Pennethorne (1801-1871) took over John Nash's practice on his retirement before becoming surveyor of the Crown Estate. He was the architect of the Public Record Office, 1851-70, and added a west wing to Sir William Chambers' Somerset House, 1852-56 - in honour of which the Royal Institution of British Architects awarded him a gold medal in 1857. The Times, 4 August 1856, digested a tribute from The Builder: "It gives us great pleasure to record an act, highly honourable to the architects of this country; it is the presentation to Mr. James Pennethorne of a testimonial from his professional brethren on the occasion of the completion of the west wing of Somerset House. In this testimonial the architects express their opinion of this service and of Mr. Pennethorne's merits. This is a rare compliment among men of genius; architects are as irritable as any other class, but no professional jealousy obscures from their eyes the claims of merit." Pennethorne was knighted in 1870. Martin Joseph Stutely (1809-1881) was surveyor to the successive Lords Kensington, c1844-80. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers TM00065

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Autograph letter to Martin Stutely, 1856

Einband: No Binding

Zustand: Very Good

Signiert: Inscribed by Author(s)