Letter and Sketch

2022/001

A letter from George Rennie enclosing a sketch he made of a bust of his father John Rennie (1761-1821)

1822

Description

A letter from George Rennie (son of John Rennie) enclosing a sketch he made from a bust of John Rennie (1761-1821) by Sir Francis Legatt Chantrey using a camera lucida. The letter dated 13 November 1822 is addressed to Mr. John Bain, 10 Bentinck Street, Berwick Street, Soho. William Bain was a medallist and designed a medal of John Rennie which will, almost certainly, have been based on the sketch. The text of the letter is as follows:

Royal Mint. Nov 13,
1822.

Dear Sir,
Some time ago I made the enclosed sketch from the Bust with a Camera Lucida: perhaps it may be useful in the new Die you are going to engrave. I shall get the Die ready as soon as possible.
Yours,
George Rennie.
PS. Please preserve it.

 

George Rennie wrote this letter as Surveyor of the Maltings and Clerk of the Irons (dies) at the Royal Mint, a position he was appointed to in 1818 on the recommendation of James Watt and Sir Joseph Banks (source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Rennie_(engineer)).

The ICE Scotland Museum collection contains a Rennie Medal from the die made by William Bain (see https://ice-museum-scotland.hw.ac.uk/product/2022-014/).

The museum collection also contains a camera lucida (see: https://ice-museum-scotland.hw.ac.uk/product/1971-004/).

Additional information

Acquisition Number

2022/001

Item Type

Short Description

Letter signed by George Rennie (son of John Rennie) with enclosed sketch

Manufactured by

Date of Manufacture

1822

Sub-items

None

Supporting Items

None

Makers Number

None

Marks

None

Dimensions (mm)

Letter (unfolded) 265 x 207. Sketch 181(W) x 202(H)

Donor

Date Donated

February 2022

Materials

Paper

Condition

Good

Display Location