To Thomas Jefferson from William Roberts, 18 July 1804
From William Roberts
Wednesday Morng. [18 July 1804]
Mr Roberts of Norfolk after conferring on himself the Satisfaction of paying his respects in Company with his Sister Mrs. Taylor to Mr. Jefferson last Summer, at Monticello, amused himself with taking various drawings of the Scenery through which he passed. Two of these Views being, he believes, favourites of Mr. Jefferson, he has had them copied in Oil Colours, and will be gratified by the President’s acceptance of them. He will take the Liberty of renewing his respect this morning—
RC (MHi); partially dated; endorsed by TJ as received 18 July and so recorded in SJL.
paying his respects: William Roberts and his sister visited Monticello in late July 1803 (Vol. 41:111-12).
Two of these Views: TJ described the Natural Bridge and Harpers Ferry in his Notes on the State of Virginia and encouraged artists to paint them. TJ hung Roberts’s landscapes in the dining room at Monticello. While the oil paintings have not been found, engravings based on these works were later made by J. C. Stadler and Joseph Jeakes (, 190).