Mount Auburn Cemetery

lights of the upper compartments, exactly as they ^^now stand in your designs. But the great circular space in this window I wish filled, not with the resurrection piece in your design, but with an allegorical representation of Death, of which I send you a design, in the roll, copied mainly from Thorwaldsens Bas relief of Night, representing a winged sleeping female and two infants. It is the most beautiful & appropriate thing I ever saw have seen.

In the Rose window you will substitute in the centre a design which is also inclosed in the roll, and which is allegorical of Immortality. It is copied from the two cherubs in Raphaels Madonna del Sisto, who are here represented as gazing upwards into a light or glory, which proceeds from an invisible source. Raphaels picture is at Dresden. Some parts of it, especially the cherub wings, are highly colored. If you have good copies in Edinburgh, please to imitate them, paying all attention to keep the expression of the faces.

Allow me to suggest an opinion that the representation of Death in the northern window should be executed in cold or sombre tints; that of Immortality which fronts the sun, should be in bright & dazzling colors. The field, or back ground I leave to be managed by your own judgement

42 George Street Edinburgh 2^nd July 1845

Jacob Bigelow Esq^re

Sir,

We beg leave to acknowledge receipt of your communication of the 14^th ult^a, and feel exceedingly gratified by the perusal of its contents.--

We shall begin to Work immediately on the receipt of the shapes or templets, and shall take care to have it finished and dispatched to your Agents in Liverpool, on or before the first day of March next.

Thorwaldsen's Night and Raphaels Madonna are both known to us, and there is an excellent copy of the latter in the possession of a Gentleman here, to which we have access. The excellent taste shown in the selection of such subjects, as well as in their adaptation to the purpose intended, is fully appreciated by us. We feel the importance of the Work committed to us, and you may rely upon our best exertions being used to treat the subjects Artistically.

We have noted carefully, and understand clearly, all the alterations in the shapes alluded to in your letter, and if upon the arrival of these, there be any point which we do not clearly understand we shall write you. The other instructions contained in your communications shall be rigidly adhered to. We trust that you have returned our design in the paper parcel, if not please do immediately, else we shall not know well how to proceed with the foliated ornament not having kept

a 235