American sculptor and a highly-decorated Confederate soldier (1844–1917). ALS signed “M. Ezekiel,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.25 x 9, May 14, 1903. In part: “Of course I would be very much pleased to make the statue of our Hero General R. E. Lee—But I will not enter into any competition nor offer any sketches or models—The commission must be given to me as all of my commissions are given unconditional. What ever price is named is a matter of indifference to me…But I will not compete with job hunters, or people who know how to pull wires better than they know how to do good work. By this I do not mean that there are not some good artists who do compete—But I have done enough to show what I can do and the men who have done as much as a rule do not enter competitions of any kind. In reference to the bust of your great Uncle Genl. Early—I will be glad to hear from you and what I have said above holds good also in this matter of course. It will be a great pleasure to me to make a bust of the General—or to do anything that would reflect honour and glory to the name of a Virginian and hero in our lost but just cause.” Central vertical and horizontal folds with trivial edge separations (vertical fold passing through a single letter of the signature), and some soiling and brushing to ink on last page, otherwise fine condition. Ezekiel is known to have created a bust of General Lee, but it does not appear that he made one of Early. A letter with outstanding artistic and Confederate content. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA.
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