To Benjamin Franklin from Francesco Favi, 20 December 1782
From Francesco Favi
ALS: American Philosophical Society
Paris ce. 20. Xbe. 1782
Monsieur
J’ai L’honneur de vous envoyer un portrait qui a etè adressè de Vienne à M. Le Comte de Mercy.4
Ce Ministre m’ayant chargè de vous Le faire passer de sa part je m’empresse de remplir cette commission, qui me procure L’honneur de me dire avec Le plus grand respect Monsieur Votre très humble, et très Obeissant Serviteur
FAVI
Notation: Favi 20 xbre. 1782.
4. We cannot be sure which portrait was being sent, but it may have been a plaster profile of Ingenhousz. On April 8, 1783, complaining that he had not heard from BF in a long time, Ingenhousz asked whether BF had received the “new cast of my profil framed” (APS). BF replied on May 16 that he had, and inquired about the method of manufacture (Library of Congress). As Ingenhousz explained on June 23, the plaster was varnished, sprinkled with silver dust, and burnished (APS).