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British-American neoclassical architect (1764–1820) who was one of the first formally trained, professional architects in the new United States; he is best known as the designer of the United States Capitol. ALS signed “B. Henry Latrobe, Surveyor of the Public Buildings of the United States,” one page both sides, 8 x 9.75, March 6, 1805. Handwritten letter to Thomas Appleton, consul in Italy, in part: "The enclosed letter to Mr. Philip Mazzei contains a request that he will endeavor to procure for the service of the United States, in the erection of the public buildings in this City, especially of the Capitol, one or two good Sculptors,—with whom he will make the proper agreements…At the last Session of Congress, a considerable Sum was appropriated to the use of the public buildings, and there is therefore an ample fund out of which to pay any draft which may be made upon us." In very good to fine condition, with splitting, and a small area of paper loss, along the intersecting folds.
In March 1803, Thomas Jefferson appointed Benjamin Henry Latrobe to the position of 'Surveyor of Public Buildings,' with the principal task of completing construction of the Capitol's south and north wings—these included the Supreme Court and Senate chambers. In that capacity, he solicited aid from the best European sculptors to assist in executing his neoclassical vision. Writing to the U.S. consul at Livorno, he requests that a letter asking for aid be forwarded to Philip Mazzei, an Italian physician, philosopher, merchant, and longtime friend of Thomas Jefferson.
Mazzei later wrote to Jefferson: 'I have received Latrobe’s letter. I thank you for it with all my heart, for I know that it is through you that I have the honor and privilege of being placed in a position to do something for my dear adopted country. He asks for a first rate Sculptor in the particular branch of Architectural decoration, able to model, and with him another good, though inferior, workman as his assistant…To make a good choice, I must go to Rome and pass through Florence.'
Mazzei evidently delivered on his quest, as two young Italian sculptors—Giuseppe Franzoni and Giovanni Andrei—arrived in the United States in 1806 to begin work on the Capitol. Latrobe would excitedly write: 'Franzoni and Andrei have arrived…Mazzei says that Franzoni is the most excellent sculptor…and that Andrei excels more in decoration.'
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