Autograph Letter Signed ‘Jos: Farington’, to James Northcote, the painter, encouraging him to “concur in voting poor Nixon his pension” of the full £80, laying emphasis on the “assistance required on account of his totally helpless state”, the Academy rules on this, etc de FARINGTON, Joseph

22 February 1808. 30 lines on 1 page 7 x 4 inches, with address panel on verson, in good condition, minor paper blemish upper right where formerly sealed. Uncommon. Joseph Farington (1747-1821), landscape painter, gained fame through his engraved book illustrations (e.g. History of the River Thames, 1794) and for his Diary, which was published in 8 volumes as late as 1922-28. “A case of a more calamitous kind can scarcely happen, & itis an expense which the Academy, in all human probability cannot long be subject to, as he is now in a deplorable state. A letter from Mrs. Nixon will be laid before the Council, which contains but a small part of what she might have related of his distressed situation. She is a very good woman.”